Chateau Langoa Barton 2019

JAMES SUCKLING: "Plenty of blackberry, currant and floral aromas. Some mint as well, following through to a full-bodied palate with layers of ultra-fine tannins and wonderful length. This is sophisticated and beautifully crafted with style and personality, displaying its terroir. Extremely well done. Drink after 2025."

WEINWISSER: "Purpur mit rubinroten Reflexen. Betörendes Bouquet nach Alpenheidelbeeren, Brombeergelee und dominikanischem Tabak, dahinter dunkle Schokotrüffel und Lakritze. Am eleganten Gaumen mit cremiger Textur und kakaoartigem Tannin, perfekt stützend, dann umhüllt eine tänzerische Rasse den Körper und man wird einfach mitgerissen. Im aromatischen Finale betören blaue Beeren, Wacholder, dunkle Mineralik und eine edle Adstringenz. So eine Eleganz findet man dieses Jahr in St.-Julien und das hier ist ein Musterbeispiel. Gehört auf jede Einkaufsliste!"

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "A timeless classic for patient readers with cold cellars, the 2019 Langoa Barton is performing beautifully in bottle, unwinding in the glass with a rich bouquet of cassis, plums, cigar wrapper, pencil shavings and loamy soil. Medium to full-bodied, deep and elegantly muscular, its concentrated core of fruit is framed by lively acids and ripe, powdery tannins that assert themselves on the youthfully firm finish. Forget it for a decade and reap the rewards for the following four."

DECANTER: "Quite strongly perfumed on the nose here, full, heady, more pronounced than some of the others with a richness and intensity to the nose. High toned straight away, a combination of quite ripe acidity, almost brusque on the palate with a creaminess to the tannins. Doesn't feel totally harmonious right now but there is great density of fruit, good acidity, brightness and soft tannins with a liquorice kick at the end, cooling and fresh. Lots going on here, just needs to come together."

JEB DUNNUCK: "A soft, seamless, beautifully textured Saint-Julien, especially in the vintage, the 2019 Château Langoa Barton gives up lots of red and black currant fruits as well as textbook damp earth, leafy herbs, chocolate, and spring flowers. It's complex, medium to full-bodied, has beautiful tannins, and no hard edges. Drink this beauty any time over the coming 20-25 years. The blend is 67% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc."

WINE ENTHUSIAST: "The powerful tannins give this wine structure. They go with the jammy black fruits and richness. Spice and a complex texture are promising in this fine, stylish wine. Drink from 2026."

FALSTAFF: "Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, opaker Kern, violette Reflexe, zarter Ockerrand. Feine Noten von Lakritze, schwarze Beeren, etwas Grafit, ein Hauch von Edelholz, Nuancen von Cassis im Hintergrund. Mittlerer Körper, reife Herzkirschen, reife Tannine, mineralisch im Abgang, gute Balance, zarter Nougattouch im Nachhall, hat Potenzial."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Deep in color, the wine is full-bodied, crisp, fresh, juicy and spicy. Medium-full/bodied, with a core of crunchy, black currants, cranberry, pomegranate and spice. This is not a forward wine, like many 2019s, so give it at least a decade or more for all of its creme de cassis to fill-out, soften and become approachable. Drink from 2033-2060."

WINE SPECTATOR: " Ripe and juicy, with a youthfully compact core of steeped plum, blueberry and black currant fruit. The finish is scored by violet and singed apple wood notes, with a tug of tar peeking in as well. Offers ample fruit and inner freshness, so this should open up soon enough. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2025 through 2038. 7,950 cases made."