2020 Langoa Barton (St-Julien)

The 2020 Langoa Barton has a wonderful, precise, mineral-driven bouquet with subtle marine scents (oyster shell and Crustacea) that emerge with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with saturated tannins. Stylistically, it`s not unlike the Léoville Barton, though this has more control and tension toward the persuasive finish. Glorious—one of the finest releases in recent years and better than the showing just after bottling. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting. 95 points

Restrained and serious, in keeping with the character of the vintage. Lovely silky tannins, unrolls slowly, with plenty of black fruits, mint leaf and pencil lead, this is delicous, restrained power, building on their success of recent vintages. 34hl/ha yield, harvest September 14 to 28. 93 points

The 2020 Langoa-Barton is a total charmer, just as it was from barrel. Succulent red cherry fruit, cedar, sweet pipe tobaco and crushed flowers give this radiant, mid-weight Saint-Julien gorgeous aromatic presence. There`s good energy to keep things in balance. I imagine the 2020 will drink well pretty mch right out of the gate. It is already so alluring. 92 points