The flagship 2019 Château Léoville Poyferré is based on 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, and the balance Petit Verdot. It's one of the bigger, richer wines in the vintage and has a gorgeous, thrilling, full-bodied style as well as notes of crème de cassis, tobacco leaf, violets, and chocolate. While many estates seem to be playing it safe and focusing on so-called elegance and balance, I love that Poyferré continues to make a ripe, sexy, beautifully textured wine that always offers more opulence and sexiness than most in the vintage. Ranking with the crème de la crème of the vintage, this gorgeous Poyferré can be enjoyed any time over the coming 40-50 years. Bravo!
So aromatic with real complexity of notes on the nose, perfume and black fruits. Quite tannic on the palate, broad-shouldered and carefully detailed with a core of liquorice-edged black fruit, dark chocolate and slate giving it quite a serious, gourmet and savoury feel right now. Lovely poise though - that St-Julien class shining through with mouthwatering freshness. Feels well made with energy and elegance. A standout wine with absolute distinction and plenty on offer. 67% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot. Harvest 22 September-11 October.
The 2019 Léoville Poyferré is showing very well in bottle, wafting from the glass with aromas of crème de cassis and wild berries mingled with notions of licorice, loamy soil, cigar wrapper and smoke. Full-bodied, velvety and polished, it's broad and enveloping, with an ample core of fruit, ripe tannins and succulent acids, concluding with a long, precise finish. Invariably the most sumptuous of the three Léovilles, featuring some 35% Merlot, the 2019 is a terrific effort that will offer a wide drinking window.
Throws off gorgeous warmed plum, blueberry reduction and açaí berry compote aromas and flavors, laced with ganache and sweet tobacco from start to finish. Delivers ample structure in the guise of a cold cast iron note buried underneath the showy fruit, with a flash of violet for treble in the background. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Best from 2025 through 2040. 15,000 cases made.
The 2019 Léoville Poyferré is cut from the same cloth as the Ducru Beaucaillou, though without delivering quite the same panache. There is richness here, but it is contained at the moment. The palate is medium-bodied with pliant tannins. Velvety smooth in texture, there is real finesse that becomes more apparent towards the finish that displays exquisite balance and wonderful length. The kind of wine that begs the response: more please. Tasted blind at the Southwold annual tasting.
TWI
96pts
The Wine Independent
The 2019 Leoville Poyferre is composed of 67% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Petit Verdot. Deep garnet-purple in color, it charges out of the glass with bold notions of baked black plums and boysenberry preserves leading to notions of cassis, cedar chest, and menthol. The medium to full-bodied palate is light on its feet, with nuanced black fruits and plush tannins, finishing long with a skip in its step.
Blackcurrant, wet-earth with fresh black-mushroom aromas. Some chocolate, too. Full-bodied with layers of beautiful, ripe fruit and creamy tannins. It’s chewy and focused. Impressive balance. Try after 2025.