Château Léoville Barton 1996

Château Léoville Barton 1996

Producer: Château Léoville Barton | Appellation: Saint-Julien, Bordeaux, France
Vintage: 1996 | Classification: Deuxième Cru Classé (Second Growth, 1855)
Blend: Predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon with Merlot & Cabernet Franc
Drinking Window: 2015–2045+ | Aging Potential: 30+ years

The Wine

Château Léoville Barton 1996 is a classic mature Saint-Julien, combining the château’s traditional, Cabernet-driven style with the excellent structure and freshness of the 1996 vintage. The year was particularly successful for Cabernet Sauvignon in the Médoc, producing wines with the balance and acidity needed for long-term ageing.

Now almost three decades old, the wine has developed a wonderful level of tertiary complexity while retaining the firm backbone for which Léoville Barton is known. Cassis and dark berry fruit are layered with cedar, tobacco, graphite and earthy savoury notes. The tannins have softened considerably, giving the wine a more polished and harmonious character while maintaining excellent freshness and length.

Tasting Notes

Nose:
Elegant aromas of blackcurrant, cassis and blackberry, followed by cedar, cigar box, graphite, dried herbs and subtle earthy notes.

Palate:
Full-bodied and beautifully structured, with mature dark fruit, refreshing acidity and finely integrated tannins. Classic Saint-Julien elegance combines with savoury and mineral complexity, giving the wine excellent depth and definition.

Finish:
Long, refined and persistent, with lingering flavours of cassis, cedar, tobacco and graphite.

Producer Details

Château Léoville Barton is one of the most respected estates in Saint-Julien and has long been admired for its traditional approach to Bordeaux winemaking. Classified as a Second Growth in the 1855 Classification, the château produces wines known for their structure, purity and exceptional ability to develop in bottle.

The Barton family has maintained a remarkably consistent style over generations, favouring wines with a strong Cabernet character and restrained use of oak. With age, this structure allows the wines to develop the complex savoury and tertiary characteristics associated with mature Saint-Julien.

Wine Details

Vinification:
Traditional Bordeaux vinification followed by maturation in French oak, allowing the wine’s structured fruit and tannins to integrate and develop complexity over time.

Alcohol Content:
Approximately 12.5–13%

Cellaring:
Mature and drinking very well now, with the structure and freshness to continue developing gracefully in well-stored bottles.

Food Pairing Suggestions

Ideal with roast lamb, côte de bœuf, beef fillet, venison and roast game. Its mature savoury character also pairs beautifully with mushroom dishes, truffle, slow-cooked beef and aged hard cheeses.