Chateau Leoville Barton 2010

Description

300 years of family heritage 1722 – Thomas Baron left his native Ireland to settle in Bordeaux, founding a wine merchant company. 1826 – His grandson, Hugh Barton, purchased 50 hectares of vines located in the Saint Julien appellation. In the historic 1855 classification the chateau was to be awarded the rank of Second Classified GrowthThe property was managed by the various generations over the years until Anthony Barton raised Chateau Leoville Barton to the level of international recognition it enjoys today. The Barton story continues with his daughter, Lilian, and her two children, now writing the chapter of the 10th generation.Terroir & vineyard The vineyard nestles in the heart of the St Julien terroir among the most beautiful slopes of Garonne gravel, facing the Gironde river. The clayey gravel subsoil allows excellent growing conditions whatever weather the vintage brings. The plowing is traditional, without weeding or herbicide. The grape varieties are Cabernet Sauvignon 74%, Merlot 23% and Cabernet Franc 3%.Vinification The harvesting is done entirely by hand. After the destemming, 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 cuvees 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 a l’esquive method.Tasting This vintage, still in its youth, evoques a warm, sented atmosphere reminiscent of linden blossom and hyacinths. It’s just like biting into a fresh grape. This is a robust wine with deep, long flavours. There is nothing aggressive here, the silky, elegant, ever accessible tannins roll like marbles around the palate. – Chateau Leoville Barton