Appellations

Leoville Poyferre 2016

St Julien, Second Growth

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Tasting Notes

The 2016 Léoville Poyferré is blessed with an outstanding bouquet of blackberry, cassis, pressed violets and just a touch of hung game/dried blood in the background; this is very impressive in terms of intensity. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins and a fine bead of acidity, very harmonious if needing a little more grip and matière toward the finish. Looking back, I was mean in my score - it just needed more time to show its flamboyant touch.

Score: 94 Neal Martin, Vinous.com Maturity: 2023-2048 Date: 01 August 2020

The 2016 Leoville-Poyferre is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot and 2% Cabernet Franc. Didier Cuvelier told me that color leeched out naturally and he conducted an 8 day pre-fermentation maceration. Matured in 80% new oak with some malolactic in barrel, it has a typical bouquet for this estate with opulent but neatly controlled, billowing scents of black cherries, black plum, crème de cassis and violets. The palate is beautifully balanced with fine tannin, a killer line of acidity and perhaps one of the most harmonious Poyferré that I have encountered at this juncture. It just glides across the mouth and slips down the throat with consummate ease. Superb.

Score: 95 - 97 Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2024-2060 Date: 28 April 2017

Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Léoville Poyferré hits the ground running with intense cassis, violets, dark chocolate, menthol and fragrant earth notions complemented by nuances of cigar box and smoked meats. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is charged with energetic, super intense black fruit and floral layers, beautifully supported with super firm, ripe, grainy tannins and seamless freshness. This liquid is simply alive in the mouth, culminating in an epically long finish that will leave your mouth practically tingling. WOW!

Score: 97 Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2021-2050 Date: 30 November 2018

A huge, soaring wine, the 2016 Léoville-Poyferré is powerful, vivid and captivating. Vertical tannins and massive concentration belie the wine's 13.6% alcohol. The more virile, brooding side of Saint-Julien comes through in this decidedly potent wine. In 2016, many Saint-Juliens possess incredible richness and voluptuousness. Léoville-Poyferré is arguably the most tannic and brooding of the wines of the appellation. I suspect the 2016 will take many years to be at its very best. A rush of dark fruit, leather, smoke, tobacco and chocolate add the final shades of nuance.

Score: 94 - 97 Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com Date: 25 April 2017

This is always a big, dramatic wine which does well in big vintages. Right through the palate you feel the beautiful architecture, and the beauty of 2016 means that the final impression is of a sophisticated but supremely balanced wine with a modern construction. Damsons and bilberries abound, with clear tension where the skin of the wine is pulled tightly over the drum. It is less of a 'classical' St-Julien than some this year, but it is entirely of itself, and excellent. The blend is 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot and 2% Cabernet Franc, with a full 55% of the overall production making it into the grand vin, which has 3.66pH. Michel Rolland has been consultant for many years, working closely alongside owner Didier Cuvelier.

Score: 96 Decanter, - Maturity: 2027-2050 Date: 20 April 2017

The deep well of gorgeous cassis, blueberry paste and blackberry puree flavors will carry this for the long haul. Shows a terrific graphite underpinning and a flash of cold charcoal. This is a big one.

Score: 95 - 98 James Molesworth, Wine Spectator Date: 06 April 2017