(97-100 points) The top wine from the Bartons, the first thing that strikes me is the colour, as it is poured from the bottle, a deep black tulip hue. And the aromatics are as explosive as this appearance suggests, with dense and concentrated layers of cassis, blackberry, dark chocolate, black olive and slate, so deep and intense. The palate is remarkable, with a dense and compact core of dark fruits mirroring the nose, with a rich wrapping of tannins around the entire body of the wine, yielding to an endpalate rich in seductive tannins, dense, compact and very long. A touch of oaky lift comes through after a while, but the fruit and texture wins out with ease. A remarkable, spine-tingling wine which goes on and on in the finish. Tasted twice. This is 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc, picked at a yield of 22 hl/ha. Cabernet Franc has not regularly made an appearance here, but the new facilities has resulted in a more parcellaire vinification, separating out the good from the lesser Cabernet Francs, and into the grand vin they go. The alcohol is reported to be 13.5%. 97-100/100

(97-99 points) A Cabernet-dominant blend of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, and 2% Cabernet Franc, the 2025 Château Léoville Barton checks in at 13.5% alcohol with a pH of 3.6. Crème de cassis, smoked tobacco, liquid violets, iron, and an incredible sense of graphite all define the aromatics of this brilliant, deep, pure, and layered beauty. On the palate, it's full-bodied, inward, and powerfully structured, and reminds me slightly of the 2010 with its deep, concentrated style. It has enormous potential.

(96-98 points) (Saint-Julien; 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc; a final yield of 22 hl/ha; 13.5% ABV; tasted at the UGCB press tasting at the Cité du Vin). This is bolder, deeper, richer and plumper still than Langoa-Barton, as of course one expects it to be – but that's saying already quite a lot in this vintage! It's also, and here more surprisingly so, intensely floral. I love the way the cedary elements seem to underscore and interweave themselves around that iris bulb florality and the dark, here predominantly cherry, fruit. This is very classical Léoville Barton. But it also has a succulent and essential juiciness that is rare – and very refreshing on the finish. 95-97

(95-98+ points) Very fruity, crunchy with layer upon layer of cassis-filled fruit, cherries and red berries. The wine possesses a fine and uniform freshness and well structured tannins and adds to the row of recent excellent vintages from Leoville Barton. This is a classic Saint-Julien with an impressive freshness and juiciness and it should age well.

Beautiful aromas, expressive and open, really fragrant with bright purple flowers and dark cherries. Supple and so energetic, you can feel some tension here with the tension coming from the really quite high acidity matching the soft fleshiness of the dark blackcurrant and raspberry fruit. I love the character, this has personality and focus. Quite a fun and really engaging wine with great balance and plenty of structure and outer bones that should soften and maybe thicken a little over ageing. I’m sure this will be a beauty. Crushed stone minerality on the finish. One of the lowest yields ever at 22hl/ha.

Beautiful vintage at Léoville Barton, delivers layer upon layer of crayon, graphite, textural interest and character, we are on another level of St Julien and right at the top of the vintage. Black chocolate and espresso coupled with finesse and fragrance that takes you into the heart of St Julien. A flood of flavour, what a brilliantly judged wine, powerful with air in all the right places. Just a breath below the brilliant 2023 for me.

(95-97 points) Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2025 Léoville Barton bursts with bold notes of cassis and kirsch, leading to hints of crushed rocks, violets, mossy tree bark, and damp soil. The medium-bodied palate is wonderfully bright and earthy with great tension and firm, fine-grained tannins supporting the intense black fruit layers, finishing long and perfumed.

(95-97 points) The 2025 Léoville Barton was picked between 4 September and 18 September and matured in 60% new oak barrels. This has an exquisite bouquet already, with ebullient blackberry and bilberry scents, beautifully integrated oak, keeping the DNA of Léoville Barton despite the warm summer. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, gentle grip, very pure fruit and a "cool" and focused finish. With lower alcohol, between 13.0 and 13.5%, the terroir really shows through here. Superb. - By Neal Martin on May 2026

(93-95 points) Another wine that will appeal to purists, the 2025 Léoville Barton offers up notes of crème de cassis, violets, pencils shavings and new oak, followed by a medium- to full-bodied, taut and penetrating palate that's racy and youthfully structured, with a concentrated mid-palate that reflects the very low yields (22 hectoliters per hectare) this year. It's a blend of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc, harvested between September 4 and 18.