2021 CH LÉOVILLE POYFERRÉ 2ÈME CRU ST JULIEN - 6x75cl

Tasting Notes

• 

  Neal Martin, April 2022,
  Score: 92-94

  The 2021 Léoville-Poyferré was picked from 28 September until 12 October at just 24hL/ha and matured in 80% new oak, the remainder second-fill. It has a high-toned, concentrated bouquet with iodine-infused black fruit, becoming floral in the glass with scents of crushed violet. The palate is medium-bodied with Poyferré's trademark velvety smooth tannins. Fine depth, though clearly not as ostentatious as the previous three vintages, it is a more streamlined Poyferré, though that renders the wine well-balanced. There is just a dash of black pepper on the finish, though it just misses a little persistency on the aftertaste. But overall, a fine Saint-Julien that should give many years of drinking pleasure. 13.0% alcohol. Drink 2026 - 2050

• 

  Wine Advocate, April 2022,
  Score: 93-94+

  The 2021 Léoville Poyferré shows considerable promise, wafting from the glass with aromas of sweet berries and plums mingled with spices, licorice and petals, framed by a deft touch of creamy new oak. Medium to full-bodied, supple and fleshy, it's a polished, charming wine with a pretty core of fruit, lively acids and ripe, powdery tannins, concluding with a penetrating finish. It's a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot.

• 

  Antonio Galloni, April 2022,
  Score: 93-95

  The 2021 Léoville-Poyferré is classy and polished right out of the gate. All the classic Poyferré signatures come through, but in miniature. The 2021 impresses with its pliant fruit, silky tannins and fine balance. To be sure, the 2021 is a smaller-scaled wine than the norm here over the last few years, but that is the charm of this vintage. Inky dark fruit, pencil shavings, licorice and menthol build into the super-expressive finish. Tasted three times. Drink 2031-2061

• 

  Goedhuis, April 2022,
  Score: 93-95

  The combination of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 26% Merlot shows off the flamboyant nature and richness of Poyferré. Beautifully hedonistic in style, it exudes rich Black Forest fruits, a touch of Arabian spice, and cracked coffee bean. Fully laden with deep black fruits, new oak vanilla and sweet juicy fruit. A very striking style.

• 

  Wine Cellar Insider, April 2022,
  Score: 93-95

  Dark garnet in color, the wine exudes flowers, cherries, currants, black raspberries, espresso beans, tobacco leaf and mocha in the perfume. Soft, silky, fresh and vibrant, with a hint of spice, the wine is forward, polished, and fruity, with loads of crushed berries and a tint of cocoa in the backend of the creamy-textured finish. The wine blends 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot, 13.11% ABV. The harvest took place September 28, finishing October 12. The yields were quite low at only 24 hectoliters per hectare. Drink from 2026-2055.

• 

  Jane Anson, April 2022,
  Score: 95

  Enjoyably supple texture, silky and juicy with blueberry, raspberry, blackberry and redcurrant fruit, along with liqourice, fennel and a touch of cocoa bean. This is a serious Poyferré with a firm tannic structure and clear ageing potential, more austere at this stage than you often find. Michel Rolland consultant, 45% new oak, 45% 1st wine, 24hl/h yield. Harvest September 28 to October 12.

• 

  Matthew Jukes, April 2022,
  Score: 18.5

  I asked Sara Lecompte Cuvelier to remind me of the mottos she and her team used to describe the past few vintages. 2018 was ‘Disgrace to Grace’, 2019 was ‘Solaire Estival’, 2020 was ‘A Promise Kept’, and now 2021 is ‘Victorious Vintage’. Her ‘Victorious’ is not dissimilar to my ‘Triumphant’, as both suggest winning. But I think Sara’s word implies that she and her team at Poyferré had more personal confidence about the outcome than many. In contrast, my word is a region-wide summation of the battle against nature that some won and others failed to overcome. So, I am even more excited to report that ‘Victorious’ is indeed the correct expression for Léoville-Poyferré because this is a massive success in this vintage. It is a wine that I imagine will appeal to lovers of expressive, highly perfumed wines with sleek chassis and long finishes. The interplay between the wine, the oak, and the tannin elements excites me most. The tannins are not shy here, sitting proudly at the core of the flavours and playing a superb supporting role for the indulgent, fondanty fruit. This is one of the most exotic and layered wines I can remember from L-P, and this is perhaps because there is a forward air here that is so ravishing. You could put any number of vintages of L-P on the table in years to come, and I think 2021 will always be a jewel in this particular crown.

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Producer

Château Léoville Poyferré

Similar to Pichon Longueville, the three Léovilles (Las Cases, Barton and Poyferré) were originallypart of the same estate - in fact, the largest in Bordeaux at the time of the revolution. In the early 1800s, the estate was divided into three distinct properties. Though it bears the same forename of its famous siblings, Poyferré is least known. Fortunately, this is changing. Through modernisation, exceptional vineyard management and meticulous winemaking, it is emerging as a star in its own right. Leoville Poyferre also produces the excellent Ch Moulin Riche.