Léoville Barton St-Julien 2014

96 points Jane Anson (Inside Bordeaux): "(83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc). Inky plum in colour, firm tannins, Cabernet dominant at 10 years old, savoury and balanced and one to look out for, a totally brilliant, delicious Léoville Barton that I cannot recommend highly enough for lovers of classical, finessed, savoury St Julien. One of my wines of the lineup. Black chocolate, cassis, pomegranate, tobacco, cigar box, gliding through the palate, concentrated and intense but delicate and finessed. It's good, so drinkable, with ageing potential. 60% new oak. Alcohol 13.5%. Drink: 2025-2048. (2/1/24)"

95 points/'Cellar Selection,' Wine Enthusiast: "This wine, with its massive tannins and rich fruit, is obviously set for a long life. It does have the contrast of fresh black-currant acidity to give it a lift. But with the power behind it, the wine will develop slowly. Drink from 2025. Alcohol 13.5%. (Feb 2017)"

95 points Falstaff: "Blackberry and cassis, very pure. Floral, almost imperceptible wood. Soft and silky on the palate, but without sweetness, delicate tannins that nevertheless radiate tension and freshness, juicy finish, firm minerality. Elegant structure that conceals a lot of extract behind its seamlessly round surface. (4/24/15)"

95 points (17.5/20) La Revue du Vin de France: "How can you resist the charm and crispness of the estate's wines? 2014, juicy and flavorful, is delicious. (2018)"

94 points Neal Martin (Vinous): "The 2014 Léoville Barton has a seductive and beautifully composed bouquet with ample brambly red fruit, sous-bois and light pencil shavings scents. This has real finesse. The palate is well balanced with fine tannins, a keen line of acidity and more salinity than its peers. What feels like top-quality new oak smooths the finish but does not impose itself. This is a classy Saint-Julien from the Barton family. Tasted blind at the Southwold 10-Year-On tasting. Drink: 2027-2050. (Mar 2024)"

94 points Wine Spectator: "This has a solid core of cassis, blueberry confiture and plum sauce flavors, wrapped with warm ganache and licorice snap notes, kept honest by graphite rivets along the finish. This has lots of muscle, but stays lean and long. Best from 2020 through 2035. (3/31/17)"

94 points Lisa Perrotti-Brown (The Wine Independent): "The 2014 Leoville Barton has a medium to deep garnet-brick color. It is a tad broody to start, with notions of tar, damp soil, and smoked meats giving way to a core of blackcurrant cordial and fruitcake, plus a hint of unsmoked cigars. The medium-bodied palate has a firm structure of grainy tannins and bold freshness supporting the muscular black fruits, finishing long with a spicy kick. Alcohol 13.5%. Drink: 2023-2038. (12/20/23)"

94 points James Suckling: "Very aromatic with cherries and blackberries. Hints of flowers. Full body, lightly chewy yet ultra-fine tannins and a fresh finish. Tangy and delicious. Racy. Better in 2021. (2/13/17)"

94 points Neal Martin (Wine Advocate): "The 2014 Leoville Barton is one of the must-buys of the vintage. Now in bottle, it has a very pure bouquet that gains intensity in the glass, laden with blackberry and raspberry coulis scents, cold wet stone, a wonderful mineralité that becomes more conspicuous with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with tensile tannin, a fine line of acidity that lends this precision and nervosité. There is class and sophistication in situ, not a powerful Léoville Barton, but beautifully poised. This is just a brilliant forerunner to the 2015 and it should represent great value. Drink: 2020-2050. (3/31/17)"

93 points Antonio Galloni (Vinous): "The 2014 Léoville-Barton shows remarkable freshness and overall vivacity. Succulent black cherry, plum, violet and blood orange create a distinctive combination of dark fruit and brisk, pulsating acidity. Today, the 2014 comes across as very tight and closed, which is probably good thing for the future. Readers should plan on cellaring the 2014 for at least a few years. Tasted two times. Drink: 2022-2039. (Feb 2017)"

93 points Jeb Dunnuck: "While a solid step back from the sensational 2015, the 2014 Léoville Barton is still a beauty. Possessing medium-bodied notes of cassis, sweet oak, spice and flowers, this impeccably balanced Saint-Julien is incredibly classy, layered and pure on the palate. While this cuvee can be backward and difficult to taste young, the 2014 has a supple, beautifully textured, fresh style that’s already approachable. Nevertheless, a few years in the cellar will do it well, and it should keep for two to three decades. Drink: 2020-2050. (11/30/17)"

93 points Chris Kissack (Winedoctor): "A quite focused aromatic profile, with fresh and cleanly defined fruit to the fore, showing a modicum of intensity which feels strong for the vintage. The palate follows up on the promise of the nose, as it presents a package of deliciously formed fruit, dried currant and cherry, with nuances of tea leaf and sandalwood, wrapped in a modest texture and a finely grained grip of tannins. An elegant, classically styled St Julien with good left-bank spirit which demonstrated what could be achieved in the vintage. Well done. Drink or hold. The alcohol on the label is 13.5%. (Feb 2024)"

93 points Jeff Leve (The Wine Cellar Insider): "Closing down at the moment, the wine had concentration, ripe red fruits with sweetness and quite a bit of freshness. Give this at least 7-10 more years and it should soften, gain complexities and flesh out nicely. (Sep 2018)"