The 1999 Château Léoville-Barton is a classic St-Julien Bordeaux that has matured beautifully. Initially austere and tannic, it has softened over time, revealing a complex profile with dark fruit, subtle earthy notes, and a refined structure. Perfectly ready to drink now, this wine offers a rich, balanced experience with plenty of depth, making it an ideal choice for collectors seeking mature Bordeaux.

The Wine Advocate | RP 88
Published: Apr 30, 2002
Drink: 2007-2022

Dry tannin and a backward, austere, muscular, brooding personality characterize Leoville Barton's 1999. However, it is packed with grip, body, and depth. Give it 5-6 years of cellaring and hope the tannin melts away sufficiently for the fruit to come forward. It should last for two decades, but will it ever be balanced? 

Jancis Robinson | JR 17+
Published: Sep 18, 2009
Drink: 2008-2024

Tasted blind. Blackcurrant compote on the nose. Very monotone at the moment with lots of everything tucked in. Bone-dry finish with some stoniness. Could be Latour! 

Leoville-barton.com

Blending: 72% Cabernet Sauvignon 22% Merlot 6% Cabernet Franc
Alcohol: 12.5°
Dates of manual harvest: From 23th September to 4th October
New barrels: 60%

Vinification
The harvesting is done entirely by hand. After the de-stemming, the berries are carefully sorted, crushed and poured in wooden vats thermo-regulated, according to their plots. The alcoholic fermentation lasts from 7 to 10 days and the extraction is always respectful of the juice by adjusting the number of pumping depending on the cuvées and the vintages. The maceration is about 3 weeks then the juice is drawn in barrels, lot by lot. The wine is then aged between 16 and 18 months in French oak barrels of which 60% are brand new, in a cellar maintained at 15 °.
The wines are topped up 3 times a week to avoid any contact between the wine and the air, the racking is traditional using the so-called "à l'esquive" method.