Château Léoville-Barton 2005 – Saint-Julien, 2ème Grand Cru Classé

The nose is powerful, aromatic, elegant, precise (everything is in place!) and offers a fine grain. It reveals notes of ripe cassis, wild strawberry and small notes of black cherry associated with fine touches of gray pepper, violet, discreet hints of Sichuan pepper as well as a hint of nutmeg and Bourbon vanilla. The palate is fruity, elegant, slightly restrained, very slightly tight and offers juiciness, a beautiful precision, gourmandize, a fine fluidity, a beautiful matter, an acidulous frame, freshness as well as fleshy / pulpy (of the fruit) side. On the palate this wine expresses notes of ripe / juicy cassis, fleshy / pulpy black cherry and small notes of acidulous raspberry associated with fine touches of acidulous blueberry as well as slight hints of violet, nutmeg, vanilla and very discreet hints of toasted almond. Tannins are elegant and very discreetly marked. There is an imperceptible almost meaty hint in the background / on the finish. Beautiful and gourmande persistence. There are slight hints of ripe almond, chocolate and a subtle hint of Bourbon vanilla on the finish / persistence.