En Primeur 2022 Releases: Château Leoville Barton, Château La Dominique, Château Langoa Barton and Château Belgrave
Bordeaux Index
11 May 2023
A terrific new release this morning in the form of the Barton family’s Leoville Barton available at £780 per 12.
2021 marked the first year of the new winery facility at the two estates, so all details were finely tuned ready for the exceptional fruit from the 2022 vintage. The cellar has more than double the number of vats allowing for detailed plot by plot selection.
Lisa Perrotti-Brown writes, “this extra level of precision was clear when tasting the 2022 Langoa Barton and Léoville Barton.”
Quality is at an all-time high for this high-flying family estate. These are intentionally never the most showy wines from St Julien, but instead speak of great terroir and great winemaking. These are must-haves from this vintage, and will give immense drinking pleasure in the years to come. Speaking about Leoville Barton, Kelley names it as “one of the stars of the Médoc and a wine likely to equal or surpass its 2019 and 2016 counterparts”. This numbers among one of the best wines we’ve tried from the estate in years. With volumes down on release this year, this wine is strictly on allocation.
Allocation only: Leoville Barton 2022
Château La Dominique sits on exceptional terroir amongst some of the Right Bank’s most storied addresses.
With vineyards abutting Cheval Blanc, Figeac, La Conseillante and L’Evangile (some of the undisputed best wines of the 2022 vintage), this St-Émilion Grand Cru Classé has had serious potential for a long time and is now realising that potential. The decades of investment – in replanting the vineyard (every hectare has been systematically replanted over the last fifty years) and in building a superb, high-tech new winery – as well as the persistent hard work of the Fayat family is deservedly paying off, with Jane Anson noting a step change in the wines from 2015 onwards.
Antonio Galloni doesn’t hold back with his assessment of the 2022 vintage, which we are pleased to offer today – “The 2022 La Dominique is stellar. Rich, deep and beautifully layered.”
We are firm believers in the remarkable nature of these Pomerol/St-Émilion border terroirs and 2022 La Dominique is a beautifully balanced and impressive rendition, “bringing out the subtle complexities of the terroir” (Jane Anson). And at £438 per 12, it is a fraction of the price of its illustrious neighbours. The property is on a strong upwards trajectory and this vintage is well worthy of a place in your cellar.
A terrific new release this morning in the form of the Barton family’s Langoa Barton at £428 per 12.
With 30% reduction in volume on release compared to the 2021 vintage this is going to be in high demand.
2021 marked the first year of the new winery facility at the two estates, so all details were finely tuned ready for the exceptional fruit from the 2022 vintage. The cellar has more than double the number of vats allowing for detailed plot by plot selection. Lisa Perrotti-Brown writes, “this extra level of precision was clear when tasting the 2022 Langoa Barton and Léoville Barton.”
In his report, William Kelley calls out the Langoa Barton 2022 as one of his ‘wines to look for’ from the 2022 releases, and we agree. This is truly one of the best Langoas we have ever tasted. Quality is at an all-time high for this high-flying family estate. These are intentionally never the most showy wines from St Julien, but instead speak of great terroir and great winemaking. These are must-haves from this vintage and will give immense drinking pleasure in the years to come.
“A blend of 56.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 41% Merlot, and 2.5% Cabernet Franc, the 2022 Langoa Barton is ageing in 60% new oak. Deep garnet-purple in color, it prances out with exuberant notes of warm cassis, blueberry pie, and Morello cherries, leading to hints of chocolate mint, clove oil, and tilled soil. The medium to full-bodied palate is chock full of juicy black fruits, framed by plush tannins and plenty of freshness, finishing with a spicy kick.” - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, The Wine Independent 92-94 Points