Press review

Jean-Marc Quarin (4/1/2009) : 16,5 (90)

Showing a lovely, dark and intense red color with a fruity, ripe and particularly aromatic nose, this is a rare character for the vintage. Performing fat on entry, the wine develops aromatic over a refined touch and a powerful body, built both with fragrance and volume. It finishes long and slightly austere. The alcohol level is 13°, and the Potential Tannin level of 82 (This is rich)

Neal Martin's Wine Journal (11/1/2009) : 92-93

Didier has conjured a compelling nose here with macerated black cherries, damson, blackberry and a touch of dried mango. The palate is ripe and sweet, sensuous texture, silky smooth with very good definition on the expressive, griottes-inspired finish. Great potential. Tasted September 2009.

Parker # 194 (5/1/2011) : 94 Maturity: -2028

One of the finest over-achieving efforts in this vintage as well as a “best buy” for a top-flight St.-Julien, this 2008 is an irresistible success. It reveals an opaque ruby/purple color, lots of unctuosity and a boatload of sweet cassis and black cherry fruit intertwined with notions of licorice, smoke and oak. Full-bodied, remarkably concentrated and stunningly pure and textured, this sensational wine is already drinking well, and will be even better with 2-3 years of cellaring.

The Wine Doctor (4/1/2009) : 17,5-18,5/20

Dense fruit here, more meaty in style than the Barton equivalent. Fresh and supple on the palate, creamy, with black cherry character. Dense and rich, but with good tannin. Well balanced acids, substantial, very concentrated, with a meaty richness. It shows but fruit than the Barton, but it has the same backward structure, and lots of potential.

The property in brief

Classified as second cru in 1855. Due to a division of the large Léoville estate, Château Léoville-Poyferré was created in 1840 and included as a second growth in the famous 1855 Classification. In 1920, the Cuvelier family purchased the estate and Didier Cuvelier has been in charge since 1979. Major investments were made thereafter to bring out the best in the vineyards, and the cellars were also renovated. Since 1994, the oenologue Michel Rolland assists the property. Léoville Poyferré is the owner of what could be characterized as the most beautiful soil in Saint-Julien. Due to its robust structure and its vivid tannins, Léoville Poyferré is sometimes described as the Léoville which is most next to the Pauillac. Marvelous ageing-potential.