Ah, the 2014 Léoville Barton Bordeaux Blend, a true testament to the renowned terroir of the St Julien sub-region in Bordeaux, France. This vintage, from the esteemed producer Léoville-Barton, is a highly celebrated wine, receiving accolades from several top reviewers including, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, James Suckling, and Wine Enthusiast.
With its vivid crimson hue, this wine exudes an opulence matched only by its smooth, rich texture. As noted by Jancis Robinson, the nose is sweet and more opulent than most St-Juliens, a characteristic that adds a certain allure and glamour to this wine. The palate, laden with blackberry and raspberry coulis, is beautifully poised and sophisticated, exhibiting an impressive mineralité that intensifies with aeration.
The 2014 vintage of Leoville-Barton is not overly powerful, but it possesses an impeccable balance, class, and elegance that is unquestionably Saint-Julien. The notes of cassis, sweet oak, spice, and flowers, as described by Jeb Dunnuck, create an alluring complexity that draws you in sip after sip.
This wine, as Wine Spectator agrees, has a solid core of cassis, plum sauce, and blueberry confiture flavors, wrapped exquisitely with warm ganache and licorice snap notes. The presence of graphite rivets along the finish adds a unique touch, making this wine a must-buy of the vintage.
The 2014 Léoville Barton is a long-term wine. With its massive tannins, rich fruit, and black-currant acidity, it's evident that this wine is set for a long life. It may be a bit closed off now, but give it at least 7 to 10 years, and it will soften and gain complexities, transforming into a true gem in your cellar. A testament of endurance and finesse, this wine surely encapsulates the spirit of Bordeaux.