Chateau Langoa-Barton - Saint-Julien - 2012 | 3ème Grand Cru Classé

The Barton family, the current owners of Chateau Langoa Barton are able to trace their Bordeaux roots all the way back to 1722. That was the year that Thomas Barton left Ireland and made his way over to Bordeaux. Like many successful owners, Thomas Barton started out as a Bordeaux negociant, or wine merchant.
The first foray into ownership for the Barton family was in St. Estephe, with Chateau Le Boscq in 1745. The family continued being active in not only buying and managing Bordeaux chateaux in the Medoc, but as successful wine merchants.
Chateau Langoa Barton has another unique distinction. Out of all the 1855 Classified Growths, it is the only chateau that is still in the hands of the same family that was an owner at the time of the classification. Today, Chateau Langoa Barton is managed by Anthony Barton and Lilian Barton.
The style of Chateau Langoa Barton is quite different than that of their other estate, Chateau Leoville Barton. A large part of that of course has to do with their vineyards and their location in the St. Julien appellation. The vines for Langoa Barton are due south of Leoville Barton, with a north by north west exposure.
The majority of their vines are close to the center of the Saint Julien appellation. Because of that geographic different, the Langoa Barton vineyard gets less sun. Langoa Barton is in a cooler terroir as it is closer to the center of Saint Julien.
The wine of Chateau Langoa Barton is then aged in an average of 50% new, French oak barrels for about 20 months. On average, close to 7,500 cases are produced of the traditionally styled Chateau Langoa Barton each year.
There is a second wine, Lady Langoa. The Barton family also own Chateau Mauvesin Barton, in the Haut Medoc appellation, and a popular, negociant company, Les Vins Fins Anthony Barton.