A family of merchants
Conquering Bordeaux
Thomas Barton left his native Ireland and arrived in Bordeaux in 1725. He developed a keen interest in wine and founded his own trading company. Following his death, his son William inherited the family estates in Bordeaux and Ireland. He then passed them on to his son, Hugh. Hugh managed to significantly increase the turnover until the French Revolution in 1793. Hugh and his wife were imprisoned and their property confiscated. Eventually released, they left Bordeaux for England and Ireland. Despite everything, Hugh Barton maintained his relationships with the people of Bordeaux and continued to grow his business from afar. He acquired his Château and a plot of land in theLéoville estatein 1826. He then renamed itLéoville BartonThree generations then succeeded one another at the head of the two Bordeaux vineyards.
Ronald Barton arrived in Bordeaux in 1924. A passionate wine enthusiast, he inherited all the vineyards of Saint-Julien. He oversaw the smooth running of the estate until his death in 1986. Having no children, he bequeathed it to his nephew, Anthony Barton, who settled in Bordeaux in 1951. Despite a challenging period for the wine trade, Anthony maintained the quality of the wines.Léoville Barton estateHis daughter, Lilian Barton, obtained a University Diploma in Wine Tasting from the University of Bordeaux. She then joined her father in the family business. With the help of her husband and two children, she would later take over the management of the wine trading business and the châteaux.
Château Léoville Barton
Classified as Second Growth
The famous 1855 Classification took place during the Universal Exhibition in Paris.The Château Léoville Bartonis then classifiedSecond Grand CruThis ranking, still authoritative in the world of wine enthusiasts, does justice to this estate, which has grown in stature over the centuries. Château de Léoville Barton has been owned by the Barton family since 1826. Its gardens extend over more than four hectares. They comprise a beautiful blend of classic French and English styles, reflecting the family's origins. The terroir of Château Léoville Barton goes beyond the qualities of the soil alone. Indeed, the climate and geology also play a significant role in the production of great wines. The subsoil is clay-gravel, and the estate faces the Gironde estuary. These characteristics allow for perfect regulation of climatic variations.
Preservation of the land and techniques
Château Léoville Barton concerned about the environment
Since 2012, the conversion of vineyards intoorganic farmingThis is done gradually. Furthermore, numerous good environmental practices are employed on the estate. The vineyard is entirely plowed using organic fertilizers (of natural and plant origin), no pesticides are used, biodegradable materials are favored, and waste is sorted. In addition, the harvest is done entirely by hand. Thus, the quality of the grapes is fully preserved. For aging the wines, the traditional approach prevails.Château Léoville BartonHere, they carry out operations such as topping up, racking using a candle, and fining with fresh egg white. These techniques have been used for generations. Finally, the Barton family tastes all the grape varieties with the technical director and consulting oenologist, Eric Boissenot. Together, they blend them to produce the grand vin.
