Leoville Barton 2016 has been released at €63.60 per bottle ex-negociant, a 17.7% increase on the 2015 price of €54. It is being offered by UK merchants for £744 per case, up 29.4% in sterling terms on the 2015 release of £575 per 12×75.
Critics have praised this year’s Leoville Barton as a great wine, but are divided as to whether it is better than last year’s vintage. Neal Martin, who awarded a score of 93-95 points, noted that “Maybe it’s not quite up there with the stellar 2015 Leoville Barton, but it is not far off.” James Suckling, however, commented that this year’s offering “should be better than the 2015.” He scored the wine 95-96 points.
Today’s opening price is delicately poised, entering the market below great vintages such as 2005 and 2010 and around the same level as 2009. However, whether this year’s offering is leaving consumers with some value, depends on whether or not this vintage is better than the previous, on which critics are divided.
Followers of Wine Advocate may prefer the higher scoring 2015, yet perhaps the true value may lay with the 2014, which Neal Martin described this as “one of the must-buys of the vintage.” Not only does it carry the same score as today’s release, it is also available at a 31% discount.
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