Langoa Barton 2010

Tasted 17 Feb: Blend just done. Very dark purple. Really rather exotic on the nose. Very lustrous and luscious. Extremely ripe and hedonistic - like 2009 but with more tannin. Tasted blind 8 Apr: Mid crimson. Notably ripe with black fruits on the nose. Then sinew and a cool finish but much more luscious than some St-Juliens. Not tarted up. A very good ambassador for the vintage's characteristics. Dry finish. Very fine tannins. Succulent fruit on the nose. Lively and polished and with real vitality and pzazz. Good lift yet the solid framework of a fine St-Julien. Still very embryonic with lots of fine tannins.

The nose has a lot of rich fruit squashy bramble and blackcurrant. Under the richness there is the freshness of bilberry balancing the richness. Towards the back the tannins are in evidence firm not aggressive and do not stop fruit expression.

Very good extraction of supple, succulent ripe fruit, a beautifully lifted and long palate, the length and harmony of a great Langoa. Drink 2018-35.

A dark nose: tobacco, liquorice, potpourri and blackcurrants. Grippy and intense yet juicy, bright and weighty. Tannins fill the mouth with a half-chewy, half-mineral texture. Fruit is pristine. A lovely sense of clarity and precision, structured but not weighty. Full of fresh red berry elements and minty cola touches on the finish. A refined style, with lots of interest and drinkability. Cool and classic.

Tasted at the Union de Grand Cru in London. Although Anthony Barton's wine may become overshadowed by his brilliant Léoville, do not ignore that gem. The Langoa Barton has a supremely well-defined bouquet: classy, refined and perfectly pitched. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins and wonderful focus. Silky smooth in texture, harmonious with a pure and shimmering finish, this constitutes one of the finest Langoa-Barton wines in recent years. Tasted November 2012.

Tasted blind at the Southwold Bordeaux 2010 tasting. The Langoa-Barton 2010 has a more feminine and floral bouquet: well defined with perfumed dark cherry, blackcurrant pastille and dry tobacco notes. It opens extremely well in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with an elegant opening, well-judged acidity and fine tannins. This is a classy number, very harmonious with a hint of black pepper on the engaging finish. You cannot really go wrong with this Saint Julien. Tasted January 2014.

Softer than I expected given the highly extracted, exceptionally tannic wines routinely produced by proprietor Anthony Barton, the oaky, powerfully concentrated, dense 2010 Langoa Barton possesses silky, well-integrated tannins. Nevertheless, the level of wood and the primary nature of the black currant and black cherry fruit suggest 7-8 years of cellaring will be essential. This is a 30-year wine

Tasted at the chateau and twice at the UGC, the Langoa Barton has a very ripe, well-defined bouquet with dark berried fruits and just a hint of oyster shell. The palate is silky smooth, cashmere tannins, very pure with dark cherries a touch of cassis, very refined and composed, slips down the throat beautifully. So pure and beguiling, there is a crystalline quality to this Langoa that is utterly compelling. Drink 2018- Tasted April 2011.