The 2006 Leoville-Barton, a Bordeaux Blend from the St Julien sub-region of Bordeaux, France, stands out as a well-regarded wine from a notable vintage. With a modest alcohol content of 12.5%, this red wine maintains a classic old-world profile, highlighted by its use of a cork closure.
Mike Supple, reviewing for JJ Buckley, notes the wine's "dark intense purple core rimmed by violet notes" with a nose that combines "blackberry and blueberry aromas" and "notes of fresh mint." Supple describes the wine as "well-structured," with flavors of "full lush blackberry and cassis" leading to a "long lingering finish of toffee and blackberry." This review underscores the wine's balance and complexity.
Wine Spectator awards this wine a score of 94, placing it at #64 on their 2009 Top 100 list. They highlight the wine's "intense aromas of cedar wood, new leather, and crushed blackberry," and describe it as "full-bodied with loads of fruit and a firm, powerful palate." The publication characterizes it as "a muscular baby," suggesting that it was best consumed after 2015.
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, through Neal Martin, echoes these sentiments with a score of 92, noting the wine's "rich and opulent bouquet" and "fine balance and poise" despite its "backward" tannic profile. Martin advises cellaring the wine for another decade, emphasizing its potential for aging.
Jeff Leve from TheWineCellarInsider.com also scores it 92, pointing out its "tobacco, cigar box, cedar wood, and spicy red fruits" aromas. He describes it as "austere in character" with "fresh, crisp, and tannic" Cabernet Sauvignon, suggesting it needs more time to reach its peak.
Jeb Dunnuck praises the wine as "fully mature yet certainly youthful," offering a "complex, layered profile" with "ample red and black fruits" and "perfumed notes of leafy herbs, cedar pencil, tobacco, and hints of crushed stone." His score of 94 reflects its "beautiful overall balance" and longevity.
Finally, Lisa Perrotti-Brown of The Wine Independent rates it 94, noting its "deep brick color" and "cheery, carefree notes of black cherry compote," with a "rock-solid structure of chewy tannins."
Overall, the 2006 Leoville-Barton is celebrated for its complexity, balance, and aging potential, making it a noteworthy selection for Bordeaux enthusiasts.