Chateau Langoa Barton 2020

JAMES SUCKLING: "This is very linear and structured, with blackcurrant, pine-needle, graphite and cedar aromas and flavors. Intense. Full-bodied, chalky and intense. Superb. Best of the trilogy. Drink after 2027."

JEB DUNNUCK: "Tasted on multiple occasions, the 2020 Château Langoa Barton comes from a mix of different sites in Saint-Julien, which makes it a great representation of the vintage and appellation. The blend is 53.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc. It exhibits a deep ruby/purple hue to go with a beautiful bouquet of red and black cherries, currants, leafy tobacco, and cedar pencil, with a touch of damp earth that emerges with time in the glass. Medium to full-bodied, balanced, and elegant on the palate, it has plenty of mid-palate depth and richness, velvety tannins, and a great finish. This plush, up-front, expansive, wonderfully textured Saint-Julien will benefit from just a few years of bottle age and cruise for two decades. It's the finest example from this château I've tasted. Bravo!"

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "The 2020 Langoa Barton has turned out superbly in bottle, offering up generous aromas of black cherries, crème de cassis, licorice and pencil shavings deftly framed by classy new oak. Medium to full-bodied, deep and fleshy, its concentrated core of ripe but vibrant fruit is framed by sweet, powdery tannins and lively acids. Beautifully balanced, it's somewhat more open out of the gates than the excellent 2019 and will offer an especially broad drinking window."

WEINWISSER: "Komplexes rotbeeriges Bouquet, Schattenmorellensaft, Thymian und heller Tabak. Am straff ausgerichteten Gaumen mit weicher Textur, reifem Extrakt und mittlerem Körper. Im gebündelten Finale Wildkirsche, dunkles Graphit und feinkörnige Adstringenz. Dieser St. Julien ruht in sich und wird noch eine längere Flaschenreife benötigen. Best Value for Money!"

FALSTAFF: "Dunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, opaker Kern, zarte Randaufhellung. Zarte Kräuterwürze, schwarze Beerenfrucht, tabakige Nuancen, mineralischer Touch. Saftig, rotbeerige Frucht, frischer Säurebogen, präsente, reife Tannine, elegant und gut anhaftend, verfügt über Präsenz, Süße und Entwicklungspotenzial. (2025–2055)"

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Here you find a powerful, fresh blast of ripe, dark currants, blackberries, mint, cedar, tobacco, herbs and spice that meld perfectly with the powerful, ripe, long, waves of red fruits. The chewy finish offers more refinement than usual in its lingering fruits and tannins. Clearly, all the work they have been doing at Langoa Barton has paid off, as this is the best vintage of Langoa I have ever tasted! Drink from 2027-2050."

WINE SPECTATOR: " Solidly built, with a bright violet note leading the way, followed by cassis and blackberry flavors that are vivid and defined. Shows apple wood and bramble notes that add a grippy, juicy feel to the finish, while an iron note adds cut and drive. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2026 through 2036. 6,400 cases made."

DECANTER: "Wood aspects on the nose: vanilla, cinnamon, toast and caramel. Ripe, but clean and tight, there’s depth and intensity to the fruit which is focused and narrow, giving a sleek but tense frame and drive of flavours. There is underlying acidity and a juiciness that comes through, and this has a long, persistent flavour but it does remain quite narrow. Nicely worked and restrained. It grows more and more, but the wood is still quite present and needs to settle. Just feels a little dry, tight, high-toned and spicy which is slightly off-putting."

JANCIS ROBINSON: "Deep crimson. Pure cassis nose, expressive and dark, the slightest impression of mint. Pure, firm and dry on the palate. There's a sobriety here after the expressive aroma. A deep sense of place and completeness and no showing off. Chewy, fresh and satisfying."