La Reserve De Leoville Barton 2009, St. Julien (1x75cl)

This is the second wine of Chateau Leoville Barton, which is the usual way into a Saint-Julien estate without paying for the main label. With over fifteen years in bottle, a second wine like this has usually done most of its softening already.

Sensible bottle for a weekend dinner or for taking to a friend's table, since it drinks like aged Bordeaux without the ceremony. Stand it upright ahead of time and decant off the sediment. Free delivery over HK$800, flat HK$80 below, no minimum order.

Tasting notes

Aged Saint-Julien typically shows cassis turning to dried fruit, with cedar, tobacco and earth appearing, and tannins that have usually settled down.