From Anthony Barton’s lesser known estate, the 2011 Langoa Barton offers up lots of dusty, earthy, black cherry notes, moderate tannin, and a serious, masculine style. Nicely concentrated and pure, it behaves more like a Pauillac than a classic St.-Julien. Give this medium-bodied wine 2-4 years of bottle age and drink it over the following 10-15 years 87+ points

Gorgeous dark purplish crimson. Refine, floral nose of fruit and vanilla. Plump, round and soft palate offering elegant fat and backed by deliciously chewy tannins. Good length. A wine of poise and finesse. 88-89 points

The Langoa Barton is a blend of 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Franc cropped at 36hl/ha cropped between 12th and 23rd September. It has a very pure lifted bouquet with fine delineation. It is very feminine with hints of blueberry and cassis just in the background, but there is nice minerality coming through. The palate is rounded on the entry with crisp acidity, hints of pain grille inflecting the black fruit with a seam of graphite on the finish. 91-93 points

Set to be one of the bargains of the vintage – Anthony Barton’s prices are always reasonable – this is better balanced and far less chunky than the 2010. There’s some grip here all right, but it’s surrounded by flavours of cassis and sweet plums, deftly handled oak and refreshing acidity. 8+ years. 93 points