Langoa-Barton St-Julien 2017

97 points Decanter: "Langoa Barton’s gravelly vineyard plots are still owned by the Barton family, who founded the estate in 1722. A blend of 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% Merlot and 8% Cabernet Franc, fermented in thermo-regulated wooden vats for 7-10 days, and aged 16-18 months in barriques, 60% new. Georgie Hindle: Seductive, beguiling nose. Taut, defined, precise, detailed. Soft, exotic spices add texture and frame to the fruit with silky, almost imperceptible tannins. Energetic, but not showy at all. Vincenzo Arnese: Ripe and concentrated fruit aromas with blackcurrant and maraschino cherry. The palate opens up to chocolate and coffee. Intense and deep finish. Andy Howard MW: A wonderful combination of classic Bordeaux style with modern winemaking. Intense palate, with integrated oak and hints of menthol, graphite and spice. Effortlessly graceful. Drinking Window: 2023-2045. (2/25/22)"

94 points Wine Enthusiast: "This wine, from the stablemate of Léoville-Barton, offers great fruit: blackberry flavors and structured black currants. With its tannins, spice and good acidity, the wine has a good future. Drink from 2023. Alcohol 13.5%. (Mar 2020)"

93 points Antonio Galloni (Vinous): "The 2017 Langoa Barton is so beautiful, just as it was en primeur. Rich, fleshy and seductive in the glass, the 2017 exudes charm from the very first taste. Succulent red cherry, red plum, mint, tobacco and blood orange all flesh out in this wonderfully inviting, alluring Saint-Julien from the Barton family. Drink: 2022-2037. (Mar 2020)"

93 points Neal Martin (Vinous): "The 2017 Langoa-Barton has a wonderful bouquet with blackberry, briary, potpourri and light violet scents that are extremely well integrated with the 60% new oak. Nothing pretentious, nothing extravagant. The palate is medium-bodied with very supple tannin, one of the most pliable Langoa’s that I can recall with plenty of black cherry and cassis fruit on the structured finish. This is a great Langoa-Barton that comes highly recommended. Drink: 2022-2045. (Jan 2020)"

93 points Chris Kissack (Winedoctor): "A blend of just 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, with 38% Merlot and 8% Cabernet Franc, and the élevage was 18 months in French oak. Despite that smaller role for Cabernet Sauvignon it presents a very proper and convincing nose, with smoky and grilled red cherry fruits dominating. The palate is fresh, full, quite plump, with nicely integrated tannins, ripe and tightly grained, sitting comfortable within the substance of the wine, with fresh and balanced acidity as well. A full, confident, sinewy and correct style, with plenty of energy, this definitely has some potential. (Dec 2019)"

93 points James Suckling: "Lots of crushed blackcurrants and chocolate on the nose, following through to a medium to full body with soft, friendly tannins that are caressing and beautiful. Drinkable now, but better after 2022. (12/22/19)"