CHÂTEAU LANGOA BARTON

The fruit on the nose is sweet lovely ripe flavours. Red and black fruits are in evidence intermingling giving lots of complexity the richness on the mid palate helped by supple rounded tannins. A rich mix of cassis and dark chocolate fills out the back palate and enriches the finish. 2020-45 Rating: 94 Derek Smedley MW, www.dereksmedleymw.co.uk (Dec 2013)

Full, deep ruby. Deep, explosive aromas of cassis, plum, blackberry, dark chocolate, violet and sexy oak. Dense, pliant and deep, with a distinctly chewy texture to its sweet flavors of cassis and dark chocolate. Very fine-grained wine with a long, rising, sweet finish featuring smooth, thoroughly ripe tannins. Rating: 92 Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar (Jul 2012)

Langoa is usually considered to be lighter than Léoville-Barton (also owned by the Bartons) and so it proved in 2009. But what the former lacks in weight and power it more than makes up for in brightness and freshness, showing red fruits, well-handled oak and a hint of kirsch. 10+ years. Rating: 93 Tim Atkin MW, www.timatkin.com (May 2010)

(a blend of 60% cabernet sauvignon, 30% merlot and 10% cabernet franc) Inky purple. Moderately intense aromas of redcurrant, coffee and cocoa lifted by a floral quality. Chewy on entry, with good dense mid-palate fruit of excellent concentration, but pronounced acidity gives the red berry flavors an almost tart quality. The persistent finish features saline and floral nuances and slightly drying tannins. This strikes me as a slightly more austere and less charming version of Langoa than usual. Perhaps a couple years more will soften it up a bit. Rating: 87-89 Ian d'Agata, www.vinousmedia.com (May 2010)

found the 2009 Langoa Barton to be so painfully extracted, excruciatingly tannic, powerful, and backward that I wrote it “should be forgotten for 15 years, and may have some charm in 30-40.” There is no doubting its level of concentration and massiveness, but, wow, proprietor Anthony Barton has sure pushed the extraction, producing a wine for our children’s children. Rating: 90-92+ Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate, www.RobertParker.com (Apr 2010)

Cropped between 23rd September and 3rd October, a blend of 34% Merlot, 54% Cabernet Sauvignon and 12% Cabernet Franc, delivering 13.0% alcohol. A deep purple colour. The bouquet has a great purity and sense of nonchalance to it, light and airy, superb definition with black cherries, a touch of cassis and autumn leaves and then with aeration, hints of oyster shell and cockle shell. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, a gentle but insistent grip, pure black cherries, touches of cassis and boysenberry towards the focused finish. Good length and breeding. Everything in its right place. Rating: 92-94 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (Apr 2010)

A glossy, black-crimson hue to this wine. The nose suggests rich plump forest fruits, dark and a touch savoury. The palate is boldly styled, with lots of soft fruit within, rather glossy and seamless. There is a rather firm hint of alcohol here, adding to the mouthfeel somewhat. Lots of ripe, velvety tannins too. Moderate acidity, and a very long finish. This is tasting very well, but that trace of alcohol detracts. Rating: 17-18+ Chris Kissack, www.thewinedoctor.com (Apr 2010)

Mid crimson with quite a pale rim. Pretty light – early picked? There’s a nice freshness and neatness to this but it’s overall a bit dry and grainy. ‘Classic style’... Rather dry on the end. 2018-2030 Rating: 16.5 Jancis Robinson OBE MW - www.JancisRobinson.com (Apr 2010)

Black red, rich, intense black summer fruits, clear and precise with very good natural concentration and depth, expressively elegant, already showing great charm above the firmness. Drink 2015-28. Rating: ****18 www.decanter.com (Apr 2010)

Opulent blackberry aromas. Lovely jam, but fresh. Full-bodied and rich. This wine sneaks up on you and follows on the end with lots of chewy tannins. Balanced and round. Rating: 90-93 James Suckling, The Wine Spectator (Mar 2010)