2003 Chateau Leoville Barton Bordeaux RP--95 WS--98

Wine Spectator: 98 Points
Score: 98 Release Price: $75 Current Auction Price: $109 Country: France Region: Bordeaux Issue: Mar 31, 2006 Top 100: 2006, Rank: 3 Designation: Collectibles Intense blackberry and cherry, with hints of currant. Toasted oak and sweet tobacco too. Roses and other flowers, such as lilacs. Full-bodied, with masses of tannins yet incredibly long and seductive. Best after 2012. 18,330 cases made. �JS

Robert Parker: 95 Points
Wine Advocate #164 Apr 2006 Robert Parker 95 Drink: 2012 - 2030 $98-$260 (75) One cannot admire enough proprietor Anthony Barton and his classic, potentially long-lived wines that are models of power, elegance, and longevity � in short, these wines symbolize what makes Bordeaux so world-renowned! Probably capable of rivaling the 2000, the uncompromisingly made, formidably powerful, masculine, and highly extracted 2003 has an inky purple color to the rim, a big, deep personality with a tight but promising nose of forest floor, creme de cassis, smoke, charcoal, licorice, and perhaps even truffle. It is layered, rich, and set for an exceptionally long life, but don�t expect to get a lot of joy even in this somewhat overtly styled vintage for at least another 7-8 years. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2030 .