2005
Leoville Barton 2005 Saint Julien
Château Léoville Barton is a textbook St-Julien – sturdy, structured, and profoundly age-worthy. It has a reputation for being traditional, “masculine and beefy” in style, requiring patience for its firm tannins to soften. The aromas lead with deep blackcurrant and black cherry intertwined with classic Médoc notes of cigar box, cedar wood, and graphite. There’s often a floral hint (violet) and a touch of earthy spice (tobacco, pencil lead) as well.
On the palate, Léoville Barton is full-bodied and tightly knit. The Cabernet Sauvignon-driven flavors of cassis and dark plum are concentrated and wrapped in a wall of fine but prominent tannins that give the wine a gripping structure. This wine is decidedly not about immediate charm – in youth it can be brooding, with the fruit hidden behind iron-like minerality, charcoal, and a hint of mint or herbs. Given enough cellar time, it blossoms beautifully: the blackcurrant fruit becomes expansive and sweetly ripe, the tannins turn velvety, and complex nuances of leather, truffle, and warm spices emerge. The finish is always long and authoritative, leaving savory blackcurrant, cedar, and a touch of peppery spice.
In short, Léoville Barton is a quintessential claret of power and pedigree – packed with intense Cabernet fruit and strong graphite-tobacco structure, it’s firmly classical and immensely satisfying for those who value depth over flash.
Trotte Vieille 2005 St Emilion
Château Trotte Vieille is a historic St-Émilion known for a more classically styled, Cabernet Franc-leaning wine. Its profile emphasizes freshness, mineral nuance, and structure. The bouquet often has a distinctive limestone-derived minerality and a touch of “oceanic” freshness alongside aromas of crushed red berries, cherry, and subtle florals. You might also detect herbal and earthy notes – cedar, tea leaf, a hint of menthol – reflecting its old-vine Cab Franc component.
On the palate, Trotte Vieille is medium-bodied and firmly framed. It has bright, savory red fruit flavors (tart cherry, redcurrant) that are lively but not overly dense, supported by dry, fine-grained tannins that give it a serious backbone. The style here is more “old-school” Saint-Émilion: not overly sweet or plush, but rather elegant, with a certain austerity in youth. The finish highlights that tension between fruit and earth – you’ll note the fresh acidity, a touch of bitter cherry skin, graphite, and a gentle toastiness.
With some age, the wine gains softness and the tannins relax, revealing more round fruit and a lovely perfume of violet and forest floor. In essence, Château Trotte Vieille is fresh, mineral, and aristocratic – a wine of subtle complexity and classic balance, showcasing Saint-Émilion’s limestone terroir through its lifted aromatics and refined, persistent finish.
Figeac 2010 Palmer 2005 Leoville2000 Set
(Each of these three illustrious wines contributes its own style – Figeac’s cabernet-infused elegance, Palmer’s velvety opulence, and Léoville’s powerful refinement – making the trio a comprehensive snapshot of Bordeaux excellence.)
Château Figeac (St‑Émilion): Figeac’s house style is unique on the Right Bank – its blend has a high proportion of Cabernet, yielding a wine of Left Bank-like structure combined with Right Bank charm. A typical Figeac shows aromas of blackberries and dark cherry intertwined with cedar, violets, and a touch of graphite mineral. On the palate it is elegant and poised, with the Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon imparting fine-boned tannins, freshness, and a mineral thread to complement Merlot’s plummy fruit. Hints of tobacco, wet earth, and floral notes add complexity. The wine finishes long and refined, marrying silkiness with lively acidity – a testament to Figeac’s balanced, aristocratic character.
Château Palmer (Margaux): Palmer is an opulent counterpoint in Margaux, known for its seductive richness and velvety texture. It offers a swoon-worthy bouquet – expect ripe blackberry, black cherry, and plum layered with exotic floral notes (violet, rose) and sweet spices. On the palate Palmer is full-bodied, plush, and enveloping, often described as “pure silk and velvet” in texture. Its Merlot content lends a voluptuous, supple mouthfeel bursting with sensuous dark fruit, while fine tannins caress the palate. Hints of licorice, cocoa, and truffle emerge as it opens. The finish is extremely long and attractive, showcasing power married to Margaux elegance – an “opulent and flamboyant” style that remains beautifully balanced and refined.
Château Léoville (St‑Julien, 2000): The Léoville in this set (a top Saint-Julien from 2000) represents Left Bank class and depth. It delivers intense aromas of cassis, blackcurrant and black cherry, underpinned by classic notes of graphite, cedar wood, and tobacco leaf. In the mouth it is powerful yet impeccably refined – a “towering” Cabernet Sauvignon core gives concentrated dark fruit and structure, while polished tannins and a mineral streak provide elegance. Hints of smoke, earth, and menthol might appear with air. The wine’s precision and length are outstanding: a long, mineral-laced finish lingers with persistent dark fruits and Pauillac-like intensity. In essence, this 2000 Léoville showcases first-growth pedigree in all but name – rich and structured, but also beautifully balanced and age-worthy.