Wine Critics:
'/%3e%3cmask%20id='path-2-inside-2_2857_5350'%20fill='white'%3e%3crect%20x='9'%20y='2'%20width='5'%20height='12'%20rx='0.5'/%3e%3c/mask%3e%3crect%20x='9'%20y='2'%20width='5'%20height='12'%20rx='0.5'%20stroke='%231F1F1F'%20stroke-width='2.4'%20mask='url(%23path-2-inside-2_2857_5350)'/%3e%3c/svg%3e)
SKUID: S006854
Château Léoville Barton Saint Julien Deuxième Grand Cru Classé 1996
Vintage Character
Château Léoville Barton Saint Julien Deuxième Grand Cru Classé 1996, a Saint-Julien second growth, illustrates why this vintage particularly favoured Cabernet Sauvignon. In the Médoc, hot June and July weather was followed by a cooler, wetter August. September then became dry and sunny, with cool nights helping preserve acidity while sugars accumulated. The estate harvested from 24 September to 6 October, and Cabernet Sauvignon accounts for 72% of the finished blend. The distinctive combination is ripe fruit with a firm, fresh line: compared with a softer, uniformly warm season, 1996 retains a more tensile and clearly structured character.
Tasting Profile & Food Pairing
Berry fruit is accompanied by spice and increasingly savoury, earthy detail. In a well-stored mature bottle, tobacco and truffle-like nuances can sit around the remaining fruit rather than completely replace it. The palate keeps a defined tannic shape, with freshness extending the finish. Roast lamb with herbs, mushroom risotto or simply prepared game birds would suit its combination of depth and restraint. Treat the wine as a mature bottle rather than a fixed recipe for decanting: taste it on opening, separate sediment carefully if necessary, and let its condition determine further aeration.
Winery Background
The Barton family's Léoville ownership dates to 1826, building on an older family connection with Bordeaux. This vintage belongs to the period of Michel Raoul and consultant Jacques Boissenot, rather than to the estate's present-day team. Merlot and Cabernet Franc complete the Cabernet Sauvignon foundation, and 60% new oak was used for maturation. The house identity depends on allowing that blend and its structure to develop gradually. The interest of 1996 is precisely the meeting of this traditional approach with a season that preserved both ripeness and acidity.
Château Léoville Barton Saint Julien Deuxième Grand Cru Classé 1996, a Saint-Julien second growth, illustrates why this vintage particularly favoured Cabernet Sauvignon. In the Médoc, hot June and July weather was followed by a cooler, wetter August. September then became dry and sunny, with cool nights helping preserve acidity while sugars accumulated. The estate harvested from 24 September to 6 October, and Cabernet Sauvignon accounts for 72% of the finished blend. The distinctive combination is ripe fruit with a firm, fresh line: compared with a softer, uniformly warm season, 1996 retains a more tensile and clearly structured character.
Tasting Profile & Food Pairing
Berry fruit is accompanied by spice and increasingly savoury, earthy detail. In a well-stored mature bottle, tobacco and truffle-like nuances can sit around the remaining fruit rather than completely replace it. The palate keeps a defined tannic shape, with freshness extending the finish. Roast lamb with herbs, mushroom risotto or simply prepared game birds would suit its combination of depth and restraint. Treat the wine as a mature bottle rather than a fixed recipe for decanting: taste it on opening, separate sediment carefully if necessary, and let its condition determine further aeration.
Winery Background
The Barton family's Léoville ownership dates to 1826, building on an older family connection with Bordeaux. This vintage belongs to the period of Michel Raoul and consultant Jacques Boissenot, rather than to the estate's present-day team. Merlot and Cabernet Franc complete the Cabernet Sauvignon foundation, and 60% new oak was used for maturation. The house identity depends on allowing that blend and its structure to develop gradually. The interest of 1996 is precisely the meeting of this traditional approach with a season that preserved both ripeness and acidity.
Product details
Wine TypeRed
WineryChâteau Léoville Barton
Grape VarietiesCabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc
WinemakerMichel Raoul
CountryFrance
Expert RatingWS 91
RegionBordeaux
SweetnessDry
Sub-regionSaint Julien
Alcohol Level12.5
Classification (Ranking)2nd Growth
Format750ml
Prices
Wine Buff
Standard delivery within 3 working days
Vinobuzz Delivery
HK$1,440
Something you might like
Château Léoville Barton Saint Julien Deuxième Grand Cru Classé 2000
Domaine de Chevalier Pessac Léognan Grand Cru Classé 1982
Domaine Muxin Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2022
Castaly Ningxia 'Myth' Cabernet Sauvignon 2015
Domaine Michel Magnien Clos Saint Denis Grand Cru 2018
Domaine Roger Sabon Châteauneuf du Pape 'Le Secret des Sabon' 2023
Caroline Parent Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru 2020
Domaine Gérard Raphet Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru Vieilles Vignes 2022
Domaine Jacques Cacheux Vosne Romanée 'Les Brûlées' Premier Cru 2020
Charles van Canneyt Chambolle Musigny 'Les Chabiots' Premier Cru 2023
Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage 'La Chapelle' 2006
Domaine Bruno Clavelier Gevrey Chambertin 'Les Corbeaux' Premier Cru 2017
Domaine Alain Hudelot Noëllat Nuits Saint Georges 'Les Murgers' Premier Cru 2018
Domaine Jean Pierre Guyon Nuits Saint Georges 'Aux Herbues' 2021
Domaine de l'Arlot Nuits Saint Georges 'Clos de l'Arlot' Monopole Premier Cru 2023
Domaine Jacques Frédéric Mugnier Nuits Saint Georges 'Clos de la Maréchale' Premier Cru 2017
Arnaud et Sophie Sirugue-Noellat Vosne Romanée 'Les Barreaux' 2024
Château Margaux Premier Grand Cru Classé 1988
Château Chauvin Saint Émilion Grand Cru Classé 2018
Château Langoa Barton Saint Julien Troisième Grand Cru Classé 2018
Château Malartic Lagravière Pessac Léognan Grand Cru Classé 2019
Château Latour 'Pauillac de Latour' 2020
Château Calon Ségur Saint Estèphe 2012
Château Clinet Pomerol 2019
Château Larrivet Haut Brion Pessac Léognan 2019
Château Meyney Saint Estèphe 2019
Château Haut-Beauséjour Saint-Estèphe Cru Bourgeois Supérieur 2018
Château Smith Haut Lafitte 'Les Hauts de Smith' Pessac Léognan 2005
Château Siran Margaux 2021
Château Couhins Lurton 'La Gravette de Certan' Pessac Léognan 2014
Château Léoville Barton Saint Julien Deuxième Grand Cru Classé 2002
Château Lynch Bages Pauillac Grand Cru Classé 1995
Château Pichon Longueville Baron Pauillac Deuxième Grand Cru Classé 2006
L'Ecole N° 41 Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley 2016
Domaine Taupenot Merme Corton 'Le Rognet' Grand Cru 2020
Domaine Marquis d'Angerville Volnay 'Les Caillerets' Premier Cru 2023
Domaine Château de Charodon Corton Renardes Grand Cru 2021
Maison Louis Jadot Nuits Saint Georges 'Les Boudots' Premier Cru 2005
Domaine des Comtes Lafon Volnay 'Santenots du Milieu' Premier Cru 2021
Domaine Henri Magnien Gevrey Chambertin 'Cazetiers' Premier Cru 2022
Domaine de Montille Volnay 'Les Mitans' Premier Cru 2022
Domaine de la Commaraine Pommard 'Les Chanlins-Bas' Premier Cru Rouge 2023
Les Parcellaires de Saulx Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru 2022
Domaine Robert Sirugue Vosne Romanée 'Petits Monts' Premier Cru 2022
Domaine Michel Noëllat et Fils Vosne Romanée 'Les Suchots' Premier Cru 2023
Domaine de la Pousse d'Or Chambolle Musigny 'Les Charmes' Premier Cru 2022
Château Lafite Rothschild Pauillac Premier Grand Cru Classé 1990
Château Pavie Saint Émilion Premier Grand Cru Classé A 2014
Château Grand Pontet Saint Émilion Grand Cru Classé 2019
Château Palmer Margaux Troisième Grand Cru Classé 1983
Château Margaux Premier Grand Cru Classé 1994
Château Giscours Margaux Grand Cru Classé 2003
Château Malescot Saint Exupéry Margaux Troisième Grand Cru Classé 2006
Château Faugères 'Calice de Faugères' Saint Émilion 2016
Château Lilian Ladouys Saint Estèphe 2016
Château Pédesclaux Pauillac 2014
Château Monbousquet Saint Émilion Grand Cru 2003
Château Ferrière Margaux Grand Cru Classé 2007
Château Laffitte Carcasset 'Le Reflet de Château Laffitte Carcasset' Saint‑Estèphe 2023
Domaine de Baron'Arques Limoux 2010
Château Gruaud Larose Saint Julien Grand Cru Classé 1990
Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande Pauillac Deuxième Grand Cru Classé 2008
Barnett Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2021
Helan Hun Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 'Hero Edition' 2018
Domaine de la Vougeraie Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru 2019
Domaine Odoul Coquard Chambolle Musigny 'Les Fuées' Premier Cru 2022
Domaine Coudray Bizot Gevrey Chambertin 'Champeaux' Premier Cru 2009
Domaine Michel Noëllat Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru 2014
Domaine Digioia Royer Chambolle Musigny 'Les Groseilles' Premier Cru 2021
Domaine Fourrier Gevrey Chambertin 'La Perrière' Premier Cru 2020
Domaine Odoul Coquard Charmes Chambertin Grand Cru 2023
Domaine Jean Pierre Guyon Nuits Saint Georges 'Aux Herbues' 2022
Domaine Michel Gros Vosne Romanée 'Aux Brûlées' Premier Cru 2022
Domaine A.F. Gros Gevrey Chambertin 'La Combe au Moine' Premier Cru 2023
Domaine Giraud Châteauneuf du Pape 'Gari' 2021
Maison Dujac Fils et Père Morey Saint Denis 2022
Château Ducru Beaucaillou Saint Julien Grand Cru Classé 1996
Château Lynch Bages Pauillac Grand Cru Classé 2019
Château Haut Batailley Pauillac Grand Cru Classé 2018
Clos de l'Oratoire Saint Émilion 2020
Château Latour Pauillac Premier Grand Cru Classé 1975
Château Grand Puy Lacoste Pauillac Grand Cru Classé 2012
Château Duhart Milon Pauillac Quatrième Grand Cru Classé 2008
Château Cos d'Estournel Saint Estèphe Deuxième Grand Cru Classé 2007
Château Poujeaux Moulis en Médoc 2018
Château Plince Pomerol 2018
Château Léoville Las Cases 'Grand Vin de Léoville' Saint Julien Premier Grand Cru Classé 2013
Domaine de la Grange des Pères IGP Hérault 2013
Domaine Hauvette IGP Alpilles 'Roucas' 2023
Pierre Graffeuille 'Odyssee' 2019
Château Léoville Poyferré Saint Julien Deuxième Grand Cru Classé 2003
Gaja Ca'Marcanda 'Camarcanda' Bolgheri 2020
Far Niente Winery 'Estate Bottled' Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2022
Domaine Henri Gouges Nuits Saint Georges 'Clos des Porrets Saint Georges Hors d'Âge' Monopole Premier Cru 2017
Domaine Jean Grivot Nuits Saint Georges 'Aux Boudots' Premier Cru 2019
Domaine Thierry Mortet Chambolle Musigny 'Les Beaux Bruns' Premier Cru 2022
Domaine François Confuron Gindre Vosne Romanée 'Les Suchots' Premier Cru 2020
Domaine des Lambrays Morey Saint Denis 'Les Loups' Premier Cru 2022
Domaine Faiveley Gevrey Chambertin 'Clos des Issarts' Monopole Premier Cru 2021
Maison Lucien Le Moine Vosne Romanée 'Aux Champs Perdrix' 2022
Domaine Philippe Charlopin Parizot Vosne Romanée 'En Orveaux' Premier Cru 2023
Domaine Arlaud Charmes Chambertin Grand Cru 2013
Domaine Digioia Royer Chambolle Musigny 'Les Groseilles' Premier Cru 2020
Domaine Michèle et Patrice Rion Nuits Saint Georges 'Clos Saint Marc' Premier Cru 2023
Domaine Yves et Mathilde Gangloff Côte Rôtie 'La Barbarine' 2022
Domaine Alain Hudelot Noëllat Vougeot 'Le Petit Vougeot' Premier Cru 2022
Château Lafite Rothschild Pauillac Premier Grand Cru Classé 2002
Château Beau Séjour Bécot Saint Émilion Premier Grand Cru Classé 2019
Château Lafon Rochet Saint Estèphe Grand Cru Classé 2015
Château du Tertre Margaux 2020
Château Mouton Rothschild Pauillac Premier Grand Cru Classé set (2000,2005,2010) MV
Château Beychevelle Saint Julien Grand Cru Classé 2008
Château Pontet Canet Pauillac Cinquième Grand Cru Classé 2006
Château Grand Puy Lacoste Pauillac Grand Cru Classé 2017
Château Montrose 'Tertio de Montrose' Saint Estèphe 2014
Château Boutisse Saint-Émilion Grand Cru 2018
Château Fourcas Borie Listrac Médoc Cru Bourgeois 2016
Château La Garde Pessac Léognan 2019
La Chapelle de la Mission Haut-Brion 2006