The 1986 Leoville Barton St Julien 750 ml is from the St Julien region of Bordeaux.
In contrast to the elegant, graceful, finesse-filled 1985 (which may turn out to resemble the classic 1953 in 15 years), the 1986 is a great wine, but so, so backward and tannic. This huge, dense, medium- to full-bodied wine exhibits tremendously rich, classic, weedy, black currant fruitiness with airing, and boasts the judicious use of new oak barrels. The tannins are elevated, but then this is a seriously concentrated, old-style, intense wine for long-term cellaring. The more I taste the 1986 Leoville-Barton, the more impressed I become with the wine's extraordinary power, density, and richness. However, it is not a wine for readers seeking immediate gratification. Although spectacular, it requires another 5-6 years of cellaring. It will easily last for half a century. Anticipated maturity: 2005-2030. Last tasted 3/97 RP
Saturated dark ruby. Cassis, shoe polish, camphor and rose petal on the nose; this reminded me of a great vintage of Latour. Dense and extremely concentrated; explosive yet totally backward. There nothing playful about this infant claret. Finishes with extraordinary, slow-building persistence. Very serious juice; one of the great Bordeaux of the 198s. Drink 21 through 235.- Stephen Tanzer (7/22)
Producer: Leoville Barton
Vintage: 1986
Varietal: Red Blend
Country: France
Region: Bordeaux
Sub-Region: Medoc
Appellation: St Julien
Sub-Appellation:
SKU: #
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