This was a wonderful surprise. It shows how 2004 is doing beautifully and is underrated. A harmonious and very perfumed nose of violet, sweet tobacco and black currant. Subtle. Some mint too. Full body, ultra-fine tannins and a long, long finish. So beautiful now.

Another sleeper of the vintage from this somewhat under the radar step-child of Anthony Barton's more famous Leoville Barton the 2004 Langoa Barton exhibits deep concentrated chunky black currant and cherry fruit intermixed with notions of forest floor and aged beef blood. This impressive full-bodied powerful ageworthy St.-Julien is atypically backward and brooding. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2025+.

What a big-hearted wine this is. It is generous, smooth and ripe, with lovely fruit. There is more than this immediate pleasure, though, because its dense tannins promise a good evolution. Langoa-Barton is the second estate owned by Anthony Barton of Léoville-Barton, and it offers some of the pleasures of Léoville at a lower price. — Roger Voss