2015 Langoa Barton (St-Julien)

The 2015 Langoa Barton is a blend of 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% Merlot and 8% Cabernet Franc picked between 19 September and 5 October, matured in 60% new oak. It has a slightly smudged bouquet at first, a mixture of red and black fruit, a little sous-bois and tobacco developing in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with gently grippy tannin, veering more towards red fruit here, but laced with tobacco and cedar notes. The finish is austere and perhaps mean at the moment, so hopefully it will develop more flesh by the time of bottling. I must confess that I cannot remember tasting Langoa next to Léoville Barton at this stage and finding such a disparity between the two wines, attested by tasting the 2014s just afterwards and finding them closer together in terms of quality. 88-90 points

Fine fragrance and fruit: shows the purity and depth of a classic vineyard with nothing exaggerated. Discreet but full of character; in perfect balance. 92 points