Opened and immediately decanted. First glasses poured 3 hours later. A sip upon opening showed the vintages tannin but, there is plenty of fruit here. The tannins are old school, dry and dusty. Loads of blackberry and black currant. The colour was very dark showing no sign whatsoever of bricking upon close inspection. Velvety mouthfeel but, leaves the impression it is still too early. The nose took three hours to start coming out … even upon decanting, when usually you get a quick explosion of impression of the aromas there was very little.
Next day: The wine had folded in and was much more pleasurable on day 2. Still lots of tannin and fruit but, the tannin seemed less obtrusive. The bouquet was brilliant – lots of black fruits and a floral component. I will hold my remaining three for quite some time.
Note: This note was posted exlcusively on Wineberserkers …
Thanks for the TN, Scott - CT tells me I have some of this in the cellar, but given your experience it doesn’t sound like I need to find it anytime soon. At least for my palate, Leoville Barton is always one of the slowest Bordeauxs to actually round into drinking shape.
This has been very very good the two bottles I have opened, though it does take a bit of time to come around. Still a bottle and a mag to drink. LB is, for me, always a great buy. The only recent vintage I have had trouble with is the 2000, which just has not ever shown me much.
Thank you so much for your note, Scott. I have one 750 and 2 five liter bottles of this (got a sick deal and could not say no as I can verify it came from the winery upon release). Been looking for a benchmark tasting recently as one does wonder when to open something like this - and even Audoze asked the fair question (and I am paraphrasing here) “in a vintage such as 1994, how long do you really want to hold onto it before you pull the cork?” He implied that with considerable tannins, the fruit may not win this battle. Glad to hear I have some time!
OTOH, when I do open the larger formats, perhaps decanting Sunday for a Saturday tasting might be in order?
Alex,
Yeah the “when to open the 94s question” is the rub. You’ve gripped my dilemma by the husk. LB is a particular teaser as it seems so made for the long haul but, the tannin over fruit thing hangs out there. I must admit that I have been happily surprised with the 94s I have had … most of which I bought upon release. For example, I recently had the last of my Faizeau VV and Prieure Lichines. Upon release, I tried on and seriously considered returning them thinking the tannin would never make them attractive – particularly the Faizeau. The Lichine was just kinda weird and disjointed in the first couple of years but, I held them till after 2004 and started on them. The Lichines were delicious and harmonious compared to the first one and the Faizeau, while tannic, had softened and was a really nice effort. I drank the last of both of them this year and, frankly, I wouldn’t have been too unhappy to have another one left for 2010. The good experience with those gave me the discipline, in part, to hold on to the Barton till now. I have some Mouton, Latour, La Mish left but, haven’t touched them. We did have a Pontet Canet in 08 and, for my palate … and Sue and I like them on the mature side, it was not near ready to provide maximum enjoyment.
Great point, Scott.
I agree that the fruit will likely not win over the long haul, but then when do you pull the trigger (or cork)?
Primarily I am glad to hear that the fruit is holding up well here so as to give the tannins more time to mellow.
Great news to hear we have more time, thanks!
Thx for the notes - sitting on LB, LLC & PC from the vintage, all cheapo deals, but also all very “structured” wines. have noted that certain critics have gone sour on the LB (tannins winning) recently so this sounds helpful, and hopeful.
