The 2010 Leoville-Barton Bordeaux Blend is a red wine produced in the St Julien sub-region of Bordeaux, France. This wine, consisting of 73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot, and 10% Cabernet Franc, is a product of meticulous crafting, aged in 60% new oak barrels and sealed with a cork closure. With an alcohol content of 13.5%, it is described as having an impressive balance of flavors and aging potential.
Reviewers have lauded this wine for its depth, complexity, and aging potential. Alex Shaw from JJ Buckley, who rated the wine 96 points, noted its "expressive perfumed nose" with aromas of black cherry, currant, and cassis, complemented by secondary notes of violet, cedar, and wild spice. He highlighted the wine's "remarkably silky" tannins, which are balanced beautifully with the intense dark fruits, making it a candidate for long-term aging, suggesting it be enjoyed over the next 30 years.
Wine Enthusiast bestowed a perfect score of 100, describing it as a "magnificently solid wine" with a dense concentration of black fruits. The tannins are dominant at this young stage, but the structure indicates extraordinary aging potential, with a recommendation to not even attempt drinking it for another 10 years.
James Suckling awarded the wine 97 points, praising its aromas of "pure blackberries and violets" and its "super velvety tannins and a delicious balance of sweet fruit, light vanilla, and nuts." He found it "really savory and beautiful," preferring it over the 2009 vintage and recommending it be tried in 2018.
Wine Spectator, giving it 96 points, noted the modern approach with "dark mocha- and espresso-infused toast" and a "charcoal spine" that supports the dark currant preserves and roasted plum fruit. This review emphasized its potential to age well, suggesting it be best from 2018 through 2038.
Jeff Leve, from TheWineCellarInsider.com, rated it 95 points and described it as "crisp, crunchy, vibrantly styled, classic Bordeaux" with a core of sweet red fruits, spice, and cigar box aromatics. He mentioned that it is still youthful and can be enjoyed now if one prefers more fruit with crunch, or allowed to age further for more complexity.
Decanter, with a score of 97, appreciated the wine's depth and power, noting its muscular tannins and concentrated cassis fruits layered with tobacco, slate, pencil lead, and smoked earth, making it hard not to recommend.
Jeb Dunnuck, also scoring it 97, commended it as "one of the all-time greats from this château," with a "textbook Barton bouquet" of dark currants, savory tobacco, saddle leather, graphite, and subtle spicy oak. He highlighted its full-bodied, deep, layered mouthfeel and polished tannins, suggesting it should be sought out by wine lovers and enjoyed over the next several decades.
Overall, the 2010 Leoville-Barton Bordeaux Blend is a wine of exceptional quality, praised for its complexity, balance, and potential for long-term aging.
