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Leoville Poyferre 2005

St Julien, Second Growth

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Tasting Notes
The 2005 Léoville-Poyferré is drop-dead gorgeous on the nose with pure red cherries, raspberry preserve, rose petal and potpourri scents, gaining intensity with every swirl. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, a fine bead of acidity, silky smooth with a delineated, classic tobacco and smoked tinged finish that lingers in the mouth. One of the highlights of the decade and with much more to give. Superb. Tasted at the Léoville-Poyferré vertical at the château with Sara Lecompte Cuvelier. Score: 95 Neal Martin, Inside Bordeaux Maturity: 2022-2045 20 September 2022
The Château Léoville-Poyferré 2005 has a rich and opulent bouquet with lavish ripe black cherries and wild strawberry, just a touch of licorice rendering its even more extravagant. The palate is full-bodied with ripe, rounded tannin, touches of licorices and glycerin on the mid-palate with savory notes flourishing towards the finish. This is almost a brash, hubristic Saint Julien, one for those who prefer a more opulent style of Bordeaux while maintaining complexity. Chapeau Didier Cuvelier. Score: 95 Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2020 - 2050 01 February 2015
Ruby red, toasted oak nose, enticing. It has held its line, and is delicious, generous, enticing, lip smacking. Has confidence, energy, damson and blackberry fruits, deepened by gourmet grilled vanilla bean and cappuccino creaminess. The quality and depth of fruit is astonishing - you can begin to drink this now (indeed it has inched open a little further since I last tasted 12 months ago), but it is going nowhere. Excellent stuff, one of the wines of the vintage. 80% new oak. Score: 97 Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux Maturity: 2022-2050 14 September 2022
Clearly speaks of the character and success of the vintage, just so coiled and ready to spring with a few hours in a carafe or in the glass. Unrolls and inches forward, a perfectly controlled, well-judged mix of textured, brambled berry fruits alongside tight juicy blackcurrant, liqourice and chocolate. Touches of smoked cedar also, still at the start of the drinking plateau at 16 years old, no need to open quite yet but this is superlative, seductive stuff. First year with Didier Thomann as cellar master. 80% new oak. Score: 97 Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux Maturity: 2021-2040 23 September 2021
The 2005 Léoville-Poyferré really needed a number of hours to come together. An old school, powerful Saint-Julien, the 2005 Léoville-Poyferré packs a serious punch. Inky dark red fruit, iron, smoke, cedar, mint and white pepper lend striking aromatic depth. This virile, tannic Saint-Julien is a bruiser, but it is also pretty impressive. Tasting it feels like taking a step back in time. Score: 93 Antonio Galloni, Inside Bordeaux Maturity: 2023-2045 01 April 2021
Lots of sexy, exotic aromas to this wine in addition to flamboyant floral undertones. It's full-bodied with a cold tannic texture and flavor that gives the wine a very graphite-like undertone. Drinkable now but better in 2018. Score: 94 James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com Maturity: 2018+ 15 October 2015
Loads of blackberry, licorice and toasted oak on the nose. Full-bodied, with lots of focused and clean ripe fruit character. Balanced and refined. Another 2003? Maybe even better? Score: 95 - 100 James Suckling, Wine Spectator 10 April 2006
Léoville Poyferré’s dense ruby/purple 2005 is soft, round and juicy, with lots of blackcurrant fruit, plum and Asian spice. It is medium to full-bodied and, along with Léoville Las Cases and Saint-Pierre, probably one of the best St.-Juliens I tasted in this retrospective. It is surprisingly supple and accessible. Drink it over the next 15 or so years. Score: 93 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2015-2030 30 June 2015
Although I still prefer the 2003, the 2005 Leoville Poyferre is a gorgeously opulent, approachable wine that is far less massive and austere than its two siblings. The most seductive, approachable, and charming of the three Leovilles, it exhibits a dense purple color as well as a sweet bouquet of mocha, black chocolate, creme de cassis, licorice, and toasty oak. Full-bodied with gorgeous upfront fruit in addition to impressive levels of melted, well-integrated tannin, it should be at its finest between 2015-2035. Score: 93 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2015-2035 30 April 2008
While perhaps not up to the standards of the extraordinary 2003, the 2005 is still a strong effort from an estate that has been doing everything right over the last two decades. Sweet toasty oak intermixed with jammy black currant, plum, and licorice aromas jump from the glass of this dense purple-hued wine. In the mouth, there is great fruit, tannin, body, structure, and delineation. This impressively endowed, well made St.-Julien will require considerable patience (as will most 2005 northern Medocs). Anticipated maturity: 2015-2030+. Score: 92 - 95 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2015-2030 30 April 2007
As superb as Leoville Poyferre’s 2005 is, it does not appear to be as profound as their 2003, but I may be proven wrong once the wine is bottled. Flowery creme de cassis aromas interwoven with hints of blackberries, licorice, and pain grille jump from the glass of this opaque purple-colored St.-Julien. Possessing medium to full body, sweet tannin, an expansive, multilayered mid-palate, good acidity and freshness, and a blockbuster finish, this powerful, impressively endowed effort will require patience. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2030+. Score: 92 - 94 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com 30 April 2006
Saturated ruby-red. Deeply pitched aromas of black cherry, currant and coffee. Sweet, silky and full, but with lovely ripe acidity to frame the dense black fruit, mocha and mineral flavors. Showing a glossy aspect to its fruit that is exhilarating, even if this deep, fairly tannic wine is a bit sullen at present, despite showing excellent back-end breadth. This is a full 13.5% alcohol; the petit verdot component reached 14.5% potential alcohol in 2005, said Cuvelier, who describes 2005 as a year of sun but not surmaturite Score: 93 Stephen Tanzer, Inside Bordeaux 01 May 2008
Good full ruby-red. Deep, dark aromas of black cherry, espresso, tobacco, minerals and flowers. Sweet, lush and deep, with a sexy oak component lifting the opulent fruit. This boasts excellent volume and length, with the dusty tannins arriving late. There's very good underlying acidity here, but the overall impression today is of a silky, round wine. Score: 91 - 93 Stephen Tanzer, Inside Bordeaux 01 May 2007
(a blend of 64% cabernet sauvignon, 26% merlot and 10% petit verdot) Good bright ruby-red. Cool, highly aromatic nose of dark berries, licorice, cedar and flowers. Densely packed, powerful and vibrant, with lovely purity of concentrated dark fruit flavors. This has a solid 3.6 grams per liter of acidity, thanks in part to the petit verdot component. Really saturates the palate on the back end, finishing with big, rich tannins and a hint of minerality. Score: 91 - 93 Stephen Tanzer, Inside Bordeaux 01 May 2006
This second growth produces reasonably priced Saint Julien in a more forward style than the other two Leovilles. Poyferre can produce stellar wines with the 1982, 1990 and gorgeous 2003 brilliant examples of this. The 2005 is incredibly rich and exotic on the nose with notes of toasted oak. Big and broad in the mouth with a harmonious texture. Richly fruited and complete with good structure, this is very luxuriant and smooth with a powerful finish. Score: - Albany Vintners, - 10 April 2006
Quite gassy and very sweet and juicy. A bit too much extraction for comfort, which is a shame since the fruit quality and purity is lovely. Very dry finish. Awkward. Score: 16 Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com Maturity: 2016-2024 10 April 2006

Tasting Notes

The 2005 Léoville-Poyferré is drop-dead gorgeous on the nose with pure red cherries, raspberry preserve, rose petal and potpourri scents, gaining intensity with every swirl. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, a fine bead of acidity, silky smooth with a delineated, classic tobacco and smoked tinged finish that lingers in the mouth. One of the highlights of the decade and with much more to give. Superb. Tasted at the Léoville-Poyferré vertical at the château with Sara Lecompte Cuvelier.

Score: 95

Neal Martin, Inside Bordeaux Maturity: 2022-2045 20 September 2022

The Château Léoville-Poyferré 2005 has a rich and opulent bouquet with lavish ripe black cherries and wild strawberry, just a touch of licorice rendering its even more extravagant. The palate is full-bodied with ripe, rounded tannin, touches of licorices and glycerin on the mid-palate with savory notes flourishing towards the finish. This is almost a brash, hubristic Saint Julien, one for those who prefer a more opulent style of Bordeaux while maintaining complexity. Chapeau Didier Cuvelier.

Score: 95

Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2020 - 2050 01 February 2015

Ruby red, toasted oak nose, enticing. It has held its line, and is delicious, generous, enticing, lip smacking. Has confidence, energy, damson and blackberry fruits, deepened by gourmet grilled vanilla bean and cappuccino creaminess. The quality and depth of fruit is astonishing - you can begin to drink this now (indeed it has inched open a little further since I last tasted 12 months ago), but it is going nowhere. Excellent stuff, one of the wines of the vintage. 80% new oak.

Score: 97

Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux Maturity: 2022-2050 14 September 2022

Clearly speaks of the character and success of the vintage, just so coiled and ready to spring with a few hours in a carafe or in the glass. Unrolls and inches forward, a perfectly controlled, well-judged mix of textured, brambled berry fruits alongside tight juicy blackcurrant, liqourice and chocolate. Touches of smoked cedar also, still at the start of the drinking plateau at 16 years old, no need to open quite yet but this is superlative, seductive stuff. First year with Didier Thomann as cellar master. 80% new oak.

Score: 97

Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux Maturity: 2021-2040 23 September 2021

The 2005 Léoville-Poyferré really needed a number of hours to come together. An old school, powerful Saint-Julien, the 2005 Léoville-Poyferré packs a serious punch. Inky dark red fruit, iron, smoke, cedar, mint and white pepper lend striking aromatic depth. This virile, tannic Saint-Julien is a bruiser, but it is also pretty impressive. Tasting it feels like taking a step back in time.

Score: 93

Antonio Galloni, Inside Bordeaux Maturity: 2023-2045 01 April 2021

Lots of sexy, exotic aromas to this wine in addition to flamboyant floral undertones. It's full-bodied with a cold tannic texture and flavor that gives the wine a very graphite-like undertone. Drinkable now but better in 2018.

Score: 94

James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com Maturity: 2018+ 15 October 2015

Loads of blackberry, licorice and toasted oak on the nose. Full-bodied, with lots of focused and clean ripe fruit character. Balanced and refined. Another 2003? Maybe even better?

Score: 95 - 100

James Suckling, Wine Spectator 10 April 2006

Léoville Poyferré’s dense ruby/purple 2005 is soft, round and juicy, with lots of blackcurrant fruit, plum and Asian spice. It is medium to full-bodied and, along with Léoville Las Cases and Saint-Pierre, probably one of the best St.-Juliens I tasted in this retrospective. It is surprisingly supple and accessible. Drink it over the next 15 or so years.

Score: 93

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2015-2030 30 June 2015

Although I still prefer the 2003, the 2005 Leoville Poyferre is a gorgeously opulent, approachable wine that is far less massive and austere than its two siblings. The most seductive, approachable, and charming of the three Leovilles, it exhibits a dense purple color as well as a sweet bouquet of mocha, black chocolate, creme de cassis, licorice, and toasty oak. Full-bodied with gorgeous upfront fruit in addition to impressive levels of melted, well-integrated tannin, it should be at its finest between 2015-2035.

Score: 93

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2015-2035 30 April 2008

While perhaps not up to the standards of the extraordinary 2003, the 2005 is still a strong effort from an estate that has been doing everything right over the last two decades. Sweet toasty oak intermixed with jammy black currant, plum, and licorice aromas jump from the glass of this dense purple-hued wine. In the mouth, there is great fruit, tannin, body, structure, and delineation. This impressively endowed, well made St.-Julien will require considerable patience (as will most 2005 northern Medocs). Anticipated maturity: 2015-2030+.

Score: 92 - 95

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2015-2030 30 April 2007

As superb as Leoville Poyferre’s 2005 is, it does not appear to be as profound as their 2003, but I may be proven wrong once the wine is bottled. Flowery creme de cassis aromas interwoven with hints of blackberries, licorice, and pain grille jump from the glass of this opaque purple-colored St.-Julien. Possessing medium to full body, sweet tannin, an expansive, multilayered mid-palate, good acidity and freshness, and a blockbuster finish, this powerful, impressively endowed effort will require patience. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2030+.

Score: 92 - 94

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com 30 April 2006

Saturated ruby-red. Deeply pitched aromas of black cherry, currant and coffee. Sweet, silky and full, but with lovely ripe acidity to frame the dense black fruit, mocha and mineral flavors. Showing a glossy aspect to its fruit that is exhilarating, even if this deep, fairly tannic wine is a bit sullen at present, despite showing excellent back-end breadth. This is a full 13.5% alcohol; the petit verdot component reached 14.5% potential alcohol in 2005, said Cuvelier, who describes 2005 as a year of sun but not surmaturite

Score: 93

Stephen Tanzer, Inside Bordeaux 01 May 2008

Good full ruby-red. Deep, dark aromas of black cherry, espresso, tobacco, minerals and flowers. Sweet, lush and deep, with a sexy oak component lifting the opulent fruit. This boasts excellent volume and length, with the dusty tannins arriving late. There's very good underlying acidity here, but the overall impression today is of a silky, round wine.

Score: 91 - 93

Stephen Tanzer, Inside Bordeaux 01 May 2007

(a blend of 64% cabernet sauvignon, 26% merlot and 10% petit verdot) Good bright ruby-red. Cool, highly aromatic nose of dark berries, licorice, cedar and flowers. Densely packed, powerful and vibrant, with lovely purity of concentrated dark fruit flavors. This has a solid 3.6 grams per liter of acidity, thanks in part to the petit verdot component. Really saturates the palate on the back end, finishing with big, rich tannins and a hint of minerality.

Score: 91 - 93

Stephen Tanzer, Inside Bordeaux 01 May 2006

This second growth produces reasonably priced Saint Julien in a more forward style than the other two Leovilles. Poyferre can produce stellar wines with the 1982, 1990 and gorgeous 2003 brilliant examples of this. The 2005 is incredibly rich and exotic on the nose with notes of toasted oak. Big and broad in the mouth with a harmonious texture. Richly fruited and complete with good structure, this is very luxuriant and smooth with a powerful finish.

Score: -

Albany Vintners, - 10 April 2006

Quite gassy and very sweet and juicy. A bit too much extraction for comfort, which is a shame since the fruit quality and purity is lovely. Very dry finish. Awkward.

Score: 16

Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com Maturity: 2016-2024 10 April 2006

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