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Château Léoville and Langoa Barton
The history of Langoa and Léoville Barton is the history of a family who have managed to preserve their inheritance for more than 2 centuries. From one generation to another the wines produced by the two properties have maintained the quality of their classification, offering wines at the very top of their appellation.
History
The history of Langoa and Léoville Barton is the history of a family who have managed to preserve their inheritance for more than 2 centuries. From one generation to another the wines produced by the two properties have maintained the quality of their classification, offering wines at the very top of their appellation.
In 1722, at the age of 27, Thomas Barton left his native Ireland and settled in Bordeaux, which was at the time a major commercial port on the Atlantic seabord. he founded a firm of wine merchants wich still bears his name.
Grandson of Thomas, Hugh Barton developed the family affair and consolidated his fortune. In 1821 he purchased Château Langoa and in 1826 a share of the Léoville estate. Elsewhere in his native Ireland he built Straffan House which became the family home.
After Hugh, three further generations succeeded as owners of the two vineyards but it was Ronald, born in London in 1902, who once again took an active part in the family interest in France. It was also he who held the vineyards together during the difficult period between the two world wars.
When Anthony Barton moved from
“As usual we invited the local ‘curé’ who was a good friend of mine and a lover of good wine. During my welcome speech I suggested that we should ask the ‘curé’ to contact his boss upstairs and request a more favourable climate the next year. After lunch he approached me and we had the following conversation.
“Monsieur Anthony, we would make a contract you and I”
“What contract do you have in mind?”
“You give me three cases of a really good vintage and I will guarantee good weather next year”
“Another question; would this be payable in advance?”
“Of Course”
“What happens if I don’t get good weather?”
“I just disappear”
I didn’t make the contract and 1992 was not a great vintage either.”
Anthony Barton
The Estate
Langoa and Léoville Barton are situated in the heart of the prestigious St-Julien appellation. The 45 hectares of Léoville and 15 hectares of Langoa are planted on this gravel soil with clay sub-soil and include a large proportion of old vines which produce the best quality. The depth at which this clay is found and the presence of other elements in the soil is variable from one part of the vineyard to another. This variation makes it difficult to define their influence on the two vineyards.
"Does anyone have a bad word to say against Château Léoville-Barton? Apart from the fact that for a couple of years I seemed to be stalked by its dapper proprietor Anthony Barton, this is an exemplary Bordeaux château with an impeccable record of wines over the last quarter-century. Let us see: consistently good wines - check; congenial, charismatic owner - check; long, unbroken, stable family ownership - check; unsurpassable value for money - check; stamp of approval from Robert Parker and the hegemony of British critics - check; attractive label - check." - Neal Martin, Wine Journal
The Wines
The grape varieties are represented by 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot and 8% Cabernet Franc in both vineyards; the methods of vinification are also the same. Generally fermentation lasts about five days during which the juice is pumped over twice daily. The wine is left with the skins for two weeks approximately but this depends on the quality of the crop. The wine is then drawn off and the skins are pressed, thereby obtaining the "vin de presse" which is an important component in the final blend. The malo-lactic fermentation takes place in the vats, after which the wine is aged in oak barrels for 20 months before bottling.