Château Langoa Barton

The grandson of Thomas Barton, the Irish founder of the Bordeaux trading house of the same name, Hugh Barton took over the family business in 1786, at the age of twenty. Thanks to his energy and efficiency, Hugh consolidated his fortune and decided to acquire vineyards in the Médoc. Château Langoa, an elegant residence built in 1758, is the archetype of 18th-century Bordeaux style. Its architecture and harmonious proportions appealed to Hugh, who bought it in 1821 and renamed it Château Langoa Barton. Three generations of Bartons later, in 1929, Ronald took over the family’s French interests and soon showed a keen interest in the Bordeaux trading business and the Langoa and Léoville vineyards in Saint-Julien. A man of courage and optimism, he patiently restored them to their former glory, and was rewarded for his efforts with a series of famous vintages. He looked after them until his death in 1986, but not before donating them to his nephew Anthony in 1983. Ronald had no children of his own and wished to pass on the reins to a member of his family in order to preserve the estate bequeathed to him by his ancestor. When Anthony Barton wrote to him to express his gratitude, Ronald replied: “It’s not me you should thank, it’s Hugh. As a simple guardian of the vineyards, I have always considered it my duty to pass them on to my heir in the best possible condition. And so he did! Today it’s the turn of Lilian Barton Sartorius, Anthony’s daughter, to manage the estate, which produces wines of great class, elegant and fine, supple and fruity.