In Bond Fine Wine. 2020 Château Leoville Poyferre, Saint-Julien, Bordeaux, France. Second Growth • Red Bordeaux in 6x75cl. Top critic score: 97/100 (AG). Drinking window: 2028–2062. Sold in bond by Albany Vintners, independent fine wine merchants.
The richest and most generous of St Julien's Leoville trio, combining opulence with the balance and finesse of the appellation. Chateau Leoville Poyferre was created when the original Leoville estate was divided in the 19th century and today ranks among Saint-Julien's leading Second Growths. Owned by the Cuvelier family since 1920, its 60-hectare vineyard is planted to 61% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot on deep Günzian gravel. The relatively high proportion of Merlot contributes to a richer, more opulent house style than either Leoville Barton or Leoville Las Cases, but retains the precision and ageability of the appellation. Since the late 1990s, the estate has established itself as one of Bordeaux's most consistently successful Second Growths, regularly receiving top critical acclaim. The wines combine concentrated black fruit, floral lift and po…
Neal Martin (NM) — 95–97/100 · Vinous, 27/05/2021 · Drink 2025 - 2055
The 2020 Leoville Poyferr' builds on the success of recent vintages, offering intense yet exquisitely defined black cherries, wild strawberry, cassis and crushed stone aromas. It is high-toned as usual but not quite as hedonistic as the recently tasted 2018. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins that belie the backbone of this Saint-Julien. Slightly lactic in texture toward the spicy fi…
Jeb Dunnuck (JD) — 95–97/100 · JebDunnuck.com, 25/05/2021
Cut from the same cloth as the 2016 with its focused, pure, yet concentrated style, the 2020 Chateau Leoville Poyferr' reveals a dense purple color as well as ultra-classic notes of creme de cassis, graphite, toasted spice, and unsmoked tobacco. Rich and medium to full-bodied, it has brilliant mid-palate depth and ripe, velvety tannins, all making for a beautiful Saint-Julien that will benefit fr…
Jane Anson (JA) — 96/100 · Inside Bordeaux, 23/09/2021 · Drink 2030-2048
Smoky, young, coiled waves of cassis puree alongside brambled blackberry and bilberry. This is layered, thick and seductive and overall a brilliant wine. Still an En Primeur wine with another half a year ahead in barrel, but evolving nicely, with great potential. 80% new oak. A yield of 35hl/ha. Harvest September 14 to 30. This year marks a full century of the estate under the ownership of the Cu…