The Terroir
A unique and valuable legacy in the heart of Saint Julien.
The precious Médoc terroir transcends and enhances the grape varieties, giving the wine its own signature style.
The meaning of the word terroir goes above and beyond its primary definition which is the soil. The concept of the terroir also encompasses the notion of climate, topology and geology.
The terroir at Léoville Barton is composed of one of the most beautiful outcrops of Garonne gravel, facing the Gironde, in the heart of the Saint Julien appellation, 40 kms north of Bordeaux in the Médoc region. The terroir at Léoville Barton is characterised by its gravel of varying heights which was left by the river over the centuries. Combined with the influence of the men who have nurtured the soils over the years, the terroir is what makes these red wines amongst the most famous in the world. The gravelly clay subsoil helps to regulate the climatic variations of the vintage.
The 1855 Classification
Léoville Barton already belonged to the Barton family when it was classified as a 2nd Grand Cru Classé Saint-Julien in the 1855 classification. Along with Mouton-Rothschild, the family is proud to be the longest-standing family of winemakers in Bordeaux.
The 1855 classification was initially established with the aim of presenting the wines of the Gironde at the Universal Exhibition of Paris at the request of Emperor Napoleon III. The responsibility of writing the classification was given by the Bordeaux Chamber of Commerce to the Association of Trade Merchants of the Bordeaux Stock Exchange. Its mission was to devise an official classification based on many years of experience and according to the quality of the Terroir and the reputation of each Château.
The Classification was published on the 18th April 1855 and represented the realities of the market and its evolution over more than a century. Almost 160 years later, the 1855 Classification remains a key reference point and an authority in the wine world.
Grape varieties
The 50 hectares (124 acres) of vines at Château Léoville Barton are planted in gravelly soils with a clay subsoil and include a high proportion of old vines to ensure optimum quality. The planting ratio is composed of 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Franc, the traditional Médoc grape varieties.