Andrew Jefford | Deep black-purple and still opaque (clearly deeper in color than Langoa). Close-grained aromas with fine spice depths; moist coal, as well as ample black fruits beneath dried citrus peels. Refined and impressive. Very pure, very driving blackcurrant fruit here, packed with energetic acidity, clad in fine tannins: long, lean, high-definition. Racehorse-like through the mouth. Very faithful to the vintage ideal, and this wine will have no difficulty seeing out a decade, though the fruit flesh may drop slowly away thereafter. Pungent, crunchy finish; exciting. | 91

Michael Schuster | Dense, tight, cedary, blackcurrant Cabernet- fruited nose; medium-full, firm in acidity, firm in tannin, typically long-term Léo B; but this has a toothsomely ripe black-fruit core, is long and even and complex across the palate, and with a marked, fruit-centered persistence. A very successful 2017 St-Julien, long and complete, with matter and richness within the 2017 firmness. Given time, and Barton always needs time, this will be very good. 2030–45+. | 93