WTN: 2004 Chateau Leoville Barton (from 375)

[David M. Bueker]

Not shocking, but this was still pretty tight. There's plenty of primary cassis/dark cherry fruit, and the structure is in balance with the fruit, but overall it really has not budged all that much from release, except that the oak has receeded a bit. Still plenty more halves in the cellar, so I will continue to experiment with this wine, but I would expect halves need 3-5 more years, and fulls much, much longer.

Informative notes; thanks, David. The '89 of this wine was my first foray into futures. I love 375s, too!

Not shocking, but this was still pretty tight. There's plenty of primary cassis/dark cherry fruit, and the structure is in balance with the fruit, but overall it really has not budged all that much from release, except that the oak has receeded a bit. Still plenty more halves in the cellar, so I will continue to experiment with this wine, but I would expect halves need 3-5 more years, and fulls much, much longer.

And my mag even longer!!

I haven't opened a single bottle of this vintage for some reason. Maybe it's not been a bad decision.

[David M. Bueker]

With 24 halves (still have 16 left) it's been easy to open this. The last 12 will get significantly more time, as they are in a location even more glacial than my cellar.

Drank one 750 of this...Maybe I am just "accustomed to" tight young Bordeaux and need more experience in properly aged wines, but we still enjoyed it in all its glory!

Of course...wish I had more. 2004 is a relatively cheap vintage, though. I seem to be gravitating more and more to affordable Loire Valley wines, though.