Léoville Barton St-Julien 2017

96 points Antonio Galloni (Vinous): "Léoville-Barton is one of the very few wines, from any appellation, that combines power and finesse with such grace in 2017. Rich, deep and wonderfully expressive, the 2017 has so much offer. The high percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon comes through loud and clear. Inky dark, fruit, game, spice, mint, licorice and lavender all build in a wine of regal elegance and head spinning beauty. For its combination of quality and price, Léoville-Barton remains one the most consumer-friendly wines of the Left Bank. The blend is 93% Cabernet Sauvignon and 7% Merlot. The September rains were especially challenging for the Merlot and Cabernet Franc. As a result, Cabernet is pushed up in the blend, while there is no Franc at all. Drink: 2025-2047. (Mar 2020)"

96 points Decanter: "Another property owned by the Barton family, Léoville Barton is one of the classic châteaux of St-Julien. The 2017 blend contains a huge 93% Cabernet Sauvignon with 7% Merlot, and was fermented in temperature controlled wooden vats, then aged for 16-18 months in barriques, 60% new. Georgie Hindle: Sweet exotic spice touches on the nose, and a plump palate. Really quite a grippy style but so charming. There’s a sense of lightness despite the clear concentration of the fruit. Good minerality on the finish, fresh and minty. Vincenzo Arnese: Intense, rich, elegant, complex nose. Finishes with a little nutmeg. The palate is rich, poised and structured. Well-integrated tannins suggest a bright future, with acidity helping keep everything together and fresh. Andy Howard MW: Quite open and generous on the palate with dark fruit notes. It’s ripe and full, yet there is a slight lack of concentration. An appealing wine, lovely to drink in the short to medium term. Fine purity of flavour. Drinking Window: 2023-2046. (Feb 2022)"

96 points/'#43 Top 100 Cellar Selections 2022,' Wine Enthusiast: "This boldly tannic wine has a firm structure that gives it excellent aging potential. That's because the great blackberry fruits are just as prominent, offering a ripe, juicy character that is already succulent and delicious. Drink this wine from 2024. Alcohol 13.5%. (Mar 2020)"

94-96 points Jeb Dunnuck: "The deep, inky-colored 2017 Léoville Barton is a classic, powerhouse wine from this estate that’s going to need bottle age. Loads of black and blue fruits, violets, classy oak, and ample minerality all soar from the glass. It’s medium to full-bodied, concentrated, and backward on the palate. With fabulous purity and integrated acidity, forget bottles for 5-6 years and enjoy over the following two decades. The blend in 2017 is 93% Cabernet Sauvignon and 7% Merlot, harvested from the 15th to the 29th of September, and aging in 60% new French oak. (4/23/18)"

95 points Lisa Perrotti-Brown (Wine Advocate): "Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2017 Léoville Barton charges out of the gate with bold notions of baked plums, crème de cassis and blueberry preserves plus wafts of pencil shavings, fragrant earth and cedar chest. Medium to full-bodied, the palate delivers mouth-coating black fruit preserves with compelling herbal sparks and a firm, grainy texture, finishing long and lively. Drink: 2023-2048. (Mar 2020)"

95 points Lisa Perrotti-Brown (The Wine Independent): "The 2017 Leoville Barton has a medium to deep garnet-purple color. It is a little closed and broody to start, offering cedar and dried herb notes before giving way to a core of cassis and raspberry preserves, plus touches of crushed rocks and truffles. The medium-bodied palate has a serious structure of firm, grainy tannins and great freshness, finishing long and spicy. Alcohol 13%. Drink: 2024-2044. (12/29/22)"

95 points/'Highly Recommended,' Wine Spectator: "[$106 list] Packed with ripe, lively plum, blackberry and black currant fruit, backed by melted black licorice and bramble accents throughout, this retains a sense of polish despite the energetic fruit and structure. Ends with an encore of warm plum reduction. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Best from 2023 through 2037. (3/31/20)"

95 points James Suckling: "The purity of cabernet sauvignon really comes through here with currants, blackberries and stones. Perfumed, too. Medium to full body. Very fine, polished tannins and a fresh, fruity finish. This shows a compact palate with a polished, creamy finish. Much higher percentage of cabernet than is usual. Drink after 2023. (12/22/19)"