LA RÉSERVE DE LÉOVILLE BARTON 2016
Château Léoville Barton is located in Saint-Julien in Bordeaux. It is ranked Second Growth in the 1855 Classification. There is no château building; the one featured on the label belongs to Langoa-Barton, Léoville Barton's sister estate. In 1821, Anglo-Irish wine merchant Hugh Barton bought Château Langoa Barton and a portion of the Léoville estate which became Léoville Barton. Anthony Barton inherited the two properties from his uncle Ronald in 1983. The vineyard, which has gravel soils over clay, is planted 74% to Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% to Merlot and 3% to Cabernet Franc. A second wine, La Réserve de Léoville Barton is produced from younger vines.
La Réserve de Léoville Barton is the Château's second wine. It is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (76%), Merlot (20%) and Cabernet Franc (4%). The harvest is carried out entirely by hand. After destemming, the berries are carefully sorted, crushed and placed in thermo-regulated wooden vats, 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 over. The maceration lasts about 3 weeks, then the barrels are run off batch by batch. The wine is then aged between 16 and 18 months in French oak barrels of 1 wine.
Grape varieties: 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc