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Chateau
Leoville Barton
Saint
Julien
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Location:
Chateau Leoville Barton lies between the towns of
Beychevelle and Saint Julien, the estate's few buildings
sit directly on the vineyard road, and the vineyards lie
just to its west.
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Size:
106 acres (48 hectares) producing 15,000 to 20,000 cases
depending on the vintage.
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Classification:
Second
growth. This property was
an average performing second growth (which is not all bad)
until the 1980s when Anthony Barton took control of the
property management. Since then the property has steadily
improved in quality and is now a definite 'Super Second'
and one of the top chateaux in Bordeaux.
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Vineyard:
72% Cabernet
Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 8% Petit Verdot,
0% Cabernet Franc.
This planting mix has evolved over the years since Anthony
Barton took over the management of the Leoville Barton.
The percentage of Merlot has increased from about 15% in
the 1970s and Cabernet Franc has disappeared.
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Vinification:
Traditional techniques -- fermented in wooded vats and
aged in oak
barrels for 18 months. Each year, 50% of the
barrels are replaced with new ones. All the winemaking takes
place at Leoville Barton's neighboring sister property,
Chateau
Langoa Barton, which has the same ownership and
follows the same winemaking regimen
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History:
Chateau Leoville Barton is the third (and smallest)
piece of the famous trio of Saint
Julien properties that 200 years ago formed one
estate (Chateau Leoville) belonging to Alexandre de
Gasq. It has been the property of the illustrious Barton
family since 1836. Leoville Barton has no actual house or
winery, so the wine is made and bottled at the Barton's
neighboring property, Chateau
Langoa-Barton. That comes as something of a surprise
to many people, but the term 'Chateau' actually refers to
the vineyard property and does not require the builidngs
that are often associated with the term.
The
Barton Family has been involved in the Bordeaux
wine trade since 1723 when the Irishman, Hugh Barton began
a trade in the region and joined with Daniel Guestier in
1725 to found the negociant firm of Barton & Guestier.
Chateau
Langoa Barton was purchased a few years earlier
than Leoville Barton by Thomas Barton. Both chateaux are
still owned by the Barton family today.
Anthony
Barton took over ownership and management of the properties
from his uncle Ronald Barton in 1983. Under Anthony's oversight,
both properties dramatically improved in quality from the
position of average performers for thier classification
to being consistently, very highly rated. Anthony has recently
passed ownership to the next generation (his daughter, Liliane)
but he remains involved in both properties.
A new chai (winemaking facility) was put in place at Langoa
Barton by Anthony in the mid-1980s. Unlike many facilities
that were built in the 1970s and 1980s in Bordeaux, the
traditional wood fermenting vats were retained rather than
replaced by stainless steel vats.
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Style:
A high proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon makes this a
rich and fruity wine with classic Saint Julien cassis-like
flavor. In the top vintages, Chateau Leoville Barton is
best about 15 years after the vintage.
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Food:
Serve with lamb, beef or roasted chicken dishes.
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33250
Saint~Julien - France
Tel. 33 5 56 59 06 05
Fax. 33 5 56 59 14 29
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Since
1994, this property often competes for the position of 'Best
Bordeaux of the Vintage'.
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