Saint-Julien, Second Growth.
62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot.
Château Léoville-Poyferré is a renowned estate located in the Saint-Julien appellation on Bordeaux's Left Bank. With a history dating back to the 17th century, this prestigious vineyard spans approximately 80 hectares. It is celebrated for producing wines that exemplify the power, elegance, and complexity characteristic of Saint-Julien. The vineyards are primarily planted with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot, thriving in the gravelly and clay-limestone soils of the region.
Jane Anson: 98/100
Brilliant Poyferré, deep ruby colour, setting the scene for ink, campfire, espresso, mint, cassis and damson. Concentrated but with a delicious balance, this feels effortless and is truly a wine for Bordeaux lovers to seek out.
Georgie Hindle - Decanter: 96/100
Bramble fruit tones on the nose with some floral elements of peony, violet and rose. Smells rich and ripe and quite opulent. Smooth and agile, a lovely energy straight away with bright, almost high-toned fruit, the acidity giving the lift and sense of freshness. Lean and straight but so juicy so you get the relatively tight structure but with mouthwatering acidity and a touch of sweetness adding bounce and pep to the expression. It’s still quite compact in terms of real expansion but there’s a long length. Really suave, almost subtle and dialled back which is great and the juiciness is totally moreish. I love it. Easy, generous, appealing.
Neil Martin - Vinous: 95-97/100
The 2023 Léoville-Poyferré was picked from September 14 until October 5 at 52.78hL/ha and aged in slightly less new oak than usual, simply because of the large volume. In fact, some of the lots commenced their malolactic fermentation in vat rather than barrel. This has an intense bouquet with black cherries and iodine, becoming more floral with aeration. The palate opens with a medium body and pliant tannins, fleshy and ripe, dovetailing into a dense and multi-tiered mid-palate. Typical Poyferré in style, blood orange and light graphite notes are embroidered into the ripe black fruit, and there is noticeable glycerol on the finish. It is perhaps the most opulent of the three Léovilles, and yet it arrives with a modest 13.1% alcohol. This is a contender for the best Saint-Julien in show.
Lisa Perrotti-Brown - Wine Independent: 93-95+/100
The 2023 Leoville Poyferre is deep garnet-purple in color. Notes of cedar chest and cracked black pepper open out to a core of juicy plums and fresh blackcurrants followed by hints of Provence herbs, lavender, and mossy tree bark. The medium-bodied palate delivers compelling tension with a firm, fine-grained texture and pure black berry flavors, finishing on a floral note.