Château Langoa Barton 200th Anniversary Assortment Case

Since the creation of the Medoc Classification of Grands Crus Classés in 1855, very few chateaux have remained in the hands of the original owners. The Barton family is one of a handful of original owners who still own the estates and manage the operations. Their skills in surviving a revolution, two world wars, and a worldwide depression between the wars as a family together are nothing if not remarkable.

The Bartons originally came from Ireland. In 1821, they acquired their first Bordeaux estate in Saint-Julien: Château Langoa Barton. Over time, they kept their roots in Saint-Julien. They built a portfolio that included Château Langoa Barton (3rd growth), Château Leoville Barton (2nd Growth), and Château Mauvesin Barton (Cru Bourgeois, Moulins-en-Médoc).

To commemorate 2021, the 200th anniversary of the family’s ownership of Château Langoa Barton, the Bartons created a one-of-a-kind collection case. 2021 was another monumentally challenging year for the world as the world navigated the COVID-19 pandemic. The owners selected five of the most storied vintages from their cellars. A limited edition of only 200 cases was produced for the occasion, with each case individually numbered. Each bottle has been cellared at the chateau since the original year of production. 

The team at Château Langoa Barton named each vintage as follows:

• Origin (1994)
• Heritage (2000)
• Nature (2009)
• Evolution (2016)
• Masterpiece: a magnum of the bicentenary vintage (2021)

A new custom label was created for each of the five vintages. For the bicentenary year 2021, all the new labels for the earlier four vintages were merged into a single label. This is a story of a single family and their enduring passion and commitment over two centuries.

Château Langoa Barton 1994 - "Undergrowth, leather, raspberry and sweet cherry fruits, alongside cloves, ash, campfire smoke. Fades a little on the finish but this is juicy and extremely moreish, could be polished off in half an hour with a good friend. This was the time in St Julien where owner Michel Delon was starting to do some green harvesting over at Las Cases, but Léoville Barton kept things traditional - reducing crops through pruning at the beginning of the season not through dropping fruit later on. Not a vintage that gets much love, but this is great for drinking now. Will not stay at this sweet spot for too long, so I suggest making the most of it. Michel Raoul technical director." - Jane Anson, (03/10/2022), Ratings: 93

Château Langoa Barton 2000 - "A great classic, sandalwood, cedar, plenty of firm tannins on display, this is a vintage that can be pretty sombre, and it is still clear that this was a tannic wine in its youth. Raspberry, red cherry, cherry pit, blueberry, just a touch drying on the very finish but overall this is walking the line, with tobacco and saffron, excellent quality and beginning to enter its sweet spot for drinking. 70% new oak for ageing, Michel Raoul technical director, Eric Boissenot consultant." - Jane Anson, (03/10/2022), Ratings: 93

Château Langoa Barton 2009 - "Tar, cloves, girolle mushrooms, with intense black fruits that are met by fresher red fruits, ensuring nother is too overpowering. This is a great vintage at Langoa, has the intensity that will please the crowds but the delicacy and St Julien finesse that makes it true to itself. First year for technical director François Brehant. 70% new oak." - Jane Anson, (03/10/2022), Ratings: 94

Château Langoa Barton 2016 - "Beautiful aromas of flowers and berries, intermingled in fresh and brambly mode with a cedary edge. This is very fresh. The tannins carve an exceptionally deep, long line through the dark berries and cassis and deliver a very powerful, unwavering finish. This is in great form. Very powerful and focused. Try from 2024." James Suckling, (02/04/2019), Ratings: 96

Château Langoa Barton 2021 - "The 2021 Langoa Barton offers up attractive aromas of dark berries and plums mingled with sweet spices and cigar box. Medium to full-bodied, fleshy and seamless, it's polished and fleshy, with an enveloping core of fruit, beautifully refined tannins and well-integrated acids." - William Kelley, The Wine Advocate, (02/22/2024), Ratings: 93