Château Léoville Barton, Saint-Julien (Bordeaux, France) 2016

  The 2016 Bordeaux vintage was an excellent one, coming on the heels of the fine 2015 harvest.  The top growths of Bordeaux have created universally fine wines in 2016 and this wine ranks among the best.  Château Léoville Barton in Saint Julien produces top-notch Bordeaux at a relatively reasonable price given the quality of the wine and the formidable prices of its second-growth peers.  The 2016 Léoville Barton shows a classic claret style.  The bouquet is layered with blackcurrant, blackberry and plum fruits.  This ripe opulence is underlain by cedar, graphite, violet, herb and toasty oak tones.  The flavors are compellingly attractive even at this youthful stage.  Layer upon layer of ripe fruit cascades across the palate, enhanced by an exotic range of herb, cedar, cigar-box, cocoa, smoke and baking spice nuances.  The Léoville Barton once again exhibits a complex and harmonious style that will reward several decades of cellaring.