This morning saw the release of the 2024 vintages of St-Julien stablemates Léoville and Langoa Barton. These two much-loved properties have been in the hands of the same family longer than any other (the Bartons bought both in the 1820s), but they have quite distinct identities. The Léoville Barton vineyards lie in the north of St-Julien, between the chateau and the river, and the style tends to be old-school St-Julien, powerful and elegant; the Langoa Barton vineyards lie in the south of the appellation on cooler, gravel-rich soils, and the style of the wine is more restrained. What they both have in common, in the words of Jane Anson, is that 'quality is at an all-time high' - and both have made excellent 2024s. 

The Barton wines haven’t been the only star pick from St-Julien. François-Xavier Maroteaux couldn't but look pleased with himself when he showed us his truly excellent 2024 Branaire-Ducru. It is the fruit of intense plot-by-plot work in the vineyard, selection at the winery, and parcel-by-parcel vinification. The other Médoc communes have also been well-represented in recent releases. In Margaux, Durfort-Vivens has an unusually low-profile for a second growth. But the terroir is excellent, and the work Gonzague Lurton has been doing, from biodynamics in the vineyard to amphorae in the cellar, has been reaping rewards. In Pauillac, Lynch-Bages has achieved 'Pauillac consistency in an inconsistent vintage,' in Jane Anson’s snappy précis. And the clay heavy soils in St-Estèphe lapped up the fresher conditions of the vintage; the monumental Montrose was Uncorked’s wine of the vintage. It has the complex, compelling yet hard-to-pin down bouquet of a truly great wine. 

But the left bank hasn’t had a total monopoly on recent releases - our pick of the 2024 right-bank releases so far is La Gaffelière. When you visit, you can barely see the vines for the profusion of flowers and grasses between the rows. Cover crops help prevent soil erosion, and bring biodiversity to the vineyard. The vines are in three spots: on the limestone plateau next to Ausone, over the cusp of the slope on limestone-embedded clay, and at the bottom of the slop where the black sandy soils need careful management, but also bring very fine aromatics. /NT

Read our full vintage report here. 
Keep abreast of latest Bordeaux releases and read wine profiles here. 

Offered subject to remaining unsold. Wines expected to arrive in 2027. To place an order, click on the wines below or call 020 7638 5998