2021 Château Langoa Barton En Primeur
2021 is a landmark vintage for Léoville Barton and Langoa Barton for several reasons. This is the last vintage to be made in the lifetime of the great Anthony Barton, who passed away this year at 91, and who did so much to create the modern reputation of these estates for unerring consistency and a simple, classical expression of terroir.
It is also the first vintage of these wines to be made in a brand new winery, with all the modern advantages of precision vinification. The vintage also marks the 200th anniversary of the Barton family's purchase of the Langoa in 1821, marked by a special label.
LANDING SPRING 2024.
Producer Profile
Château Langoa-Barton, St-Julien Grand Cru Classé
Château Langoa-Barton is a Troisièmes Grand Cru Classé in St-Julien.
Irish Bordeaux merchant Hugh Barton (a friend of fellow Irish merchant Bernard Phelan of Phélan Ségur) first settled in Bordeaux in 1722. Pierre-Bernard de Pontet sold the ''Langoa'' estate (then named Pontet-Langlois) to the Bartons in 1821 and they renamed ' it Château Langoa Barton'.
The Château was built in 1758 by a Monsieur de Pontet. The vaulted cellars beneath the living areas of the château are a distinctive feature of visiting here. The vineyards which became Léoville Barton were purchased in 1826, formerly part of the larger Léoville estate. With no château of its own, Léoville Barton is made at Langoa and the property featured on the label is actually Langoa Barton.
The Barton's spent the majority of their time in Ireland until Ronald Barton took over. He became the first Barton to be based at the estate. His nephew Anthony Barton, who took over in 1983, did much to define the austere, classical style here, favouring traditional vinification and as little intervention as possible, to allow the wine to express its terroir. The estate is now run by Anthony's daughter, Lilian Sartorius-Barton.
Langoa is in a slightly cooler microclimate to Léoville. The 20 hectares are planted on gravelly with clay subsoil, to a mix of 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot and 9% Cabernet Franc. The vines are on average 37 years old. Around 7,500 cases are produced each year.
| RED | 2021 | 5 cases | Château Langoa Barton | 75cl | £340 per case of 12 | Château Langoa Barton 2021 / 5 cases / 75cl £340 per case of 12 |
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Tasting Notes"Bright plum in colour, this is skilfully expressed, austere but present red cherry and blackberry fruits, strict tannic structure that opens through the mid palate to allow some juice and sandalwood smoke to run through the fruit. This has less of the exuberant depths that we have seen in Langoa in recent vintages, a little more old school overall, but will age, and has appellation signature. 60% new oak. Technical director François Brehant, consultant Eric Boissenot. 92 points." JaneAnson.com (JA) Apr 2022------"Analysis shows 13.03% alcohol. It has a well-defined bouquet with expressive Merlot this year. Hints of blood orange/orange sorbet percolate through the red fruit. It has a skip in its step. The palate is medium-bodied with a taut and fresh entry. Plenty of sapidity here. Oyster shell tinged with a well-defined and quite persistent finish. Lovely length, this is quite a gorgeous Saint Julien that will age beautifully in bottle. 91-93 points." Vinous.com (NM)------"The first vintage vinified in the Barton family's new winery, the 2021 Langoa Barton is immensely promising, offering up aromas of cassis, cigar wrapper, loamy soil and black truffle, followed by a medium to full-bodied, velvety and seamless palate that's deep and complete, its vibrant core of fruit framed by ripe tannins and lively acids. It's a blend of 61% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Franc. Tasted three times. 92-94 points." Wine Advocate (WK) Apr 2022 |
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