The commune of St Julien may have no first-growths, but it is well served by seconds and fourths (Margaux rules the thirds). Perhaps the most high profile of all St Juliens is `super second` Leoville Barton, consistently producing brilliant, structured wine that barely falls short of the first growths, and for a fraction of the money.

The story of this chateau goes back to Irishman Thomas Barton, who made a fortune importing claret to Ireland in the 18th century, and his grandson Hugh Barton who bought both Chateau Langoa (now of course Langoa Barton) and a swathe of the Leoville estate in the unsettled times after the Napoleonic wars. To this day both Leoville and Langoa remain in the hands of the Barton family, which has contributed to long-term consistency in style and quality.

The soils are typical of St Julien terroir; gravelly, with beds of clay deeper down. The vineyards are planted with 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot and 8% Merlot. Left bank claret to the core. (NT 30/01/15)