Notable success is an understatement - it’s monumental.
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Yep, no.
Just ordered a 1988 
.
Found it at a source I had success with before that deals with older wines. Normally a bit pricey, but they actually had it on sale, so was a no brainer.
But keep those opinions coming. Maybe I will get two bottles to do a side by side tasting.
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Could throw in a ‘19 too for an old - middle - young tasting. I was pretty shocked at how approachable this was for young LB a few months ago.
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I’d agree with 88, 89, 90, 96 and for current pleasure at a very good price, agreeing with Julian and Keith above, I think the sleeper is 04. It’s drinking beautifully. Not the “best” of these vintages but en pointe and giving a ton of pleasure right now
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I felt the same about the ‘18 recently. It’s not going to win “most complex” but it was really good.
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Had the 2001 within the past month; although we enjoyed it, I have to believe there are better options. I agree with those who’ve said 2000 is excellent.
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2000 Leoville-Barton was smoked by both the 2000 Pichon-Lalande and the 2000 Cos d’Estournel all of…6 days ago. The enthusiasm here in this thread is overstated. Particularly at this moment, the wine is in a shell.
Yes, perfect storage, and laudable handling.
Unless there are multiple bottling runs of the same wine, I would not be taken in by the enthusiasm in this thread.
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Agree on the ‘85.
Of all the bottles of LB I have had thus far, three of the ‘85 rank in my top six. For me it has always presented as a rather elegant vintage of this wine.
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Yea, the rest of y’all are dullards!
Completely agree about the 88. I would also suggest the 86 and 85. If you want to have some fun, go with a mini-vertical of those along with the 87, which is surprisingly good. All great wines but very different. Speaks to the excellence of the Bartons that they can make fantastic wines in such varied conditions.
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I wouldn’t - and didn’t - say dullards.
What I would say is that there is a cult of personality around William Kelley on this board, and I am ok with disagreeing with him despite that frequently professed adoration here. I was ok disagreeing with Parker, and I am ok disagreeing with William.
In terms of Levenberg, I don’t really pay attention to his opinion on much, as I know our palates don’t align and I know his tendency is to be super dismissive in a sort of authoritarian way.
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I have had the 2000 three times and each time it was a bruiser and nowhere near ready for my palate. Granted, my last taste was in 2016, but seeing as how very basic ‘00 Bordeaux are only recently drinking well to my palate, along with a few random examples** of classified growths, I am not surprised that the LB needs time. Hopefully it will eventually emerge as the great wine it was projected to be.
** in our tasting groups we’ve had a wine show up at one tasting, Pontet Canet immediately comes to mind though there have been a few others, and it showed beautifully. It showed up again a short time thereafter and was completely shut down. We are now 20+ years out so individual bottle variation certainly has something to do with it, as well as decanting, etc., but I am of the opinion that, generally speaking, the 2000s need more time.
I am okay with you disagreeing with me too, Levi! Discussion is, after all, what this board is for.
My last bottle of 2000 LB was pretty fleshy and open, honestly, whereas I have found the 2000 Cos a bit bretty; we agree on the Pichon.
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Had 2000 Cos in a vertical a few months ago. Didn’t pick up anything remotelt bretty in that particular vintage, but it did have a streak of sweet diacetyl that distracted me a bit.
Sent a sample to the lab and as I recall >400 ppm volatile phenols… was a while ago now though so I’d have to find the report.
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The only older LB I’ve had was a 1990 and it was fabulous (drank in 2020).
I have a bunch in my cellar but it’s recent vintages, so it’s going to be a while before I can recommend them.
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- Levenberg has a yak palate.
- Leoville Barton didn’t exist before WK
- Everyone else is dullard.
- WK cult of personality
Got it!
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I had the 2000 Barton last year and thought it was pretty classy, clean and youthful but certainly drinkable and a very solid 2000 Left Bank for my palate. No brett or other oddities, but even at 22 years old I bet there’s a lot of bottle variation. All a bit moot for the OP since he’s already bought the ‘88, which I hope is sound - could be really a pleasure to drink.
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I had the 2000 Barton a year ago. It showed beautifully; bought a few bottles as a result, although not opened any since.
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