CHATEAU LEOVILLE-POYFERRE 2eme Grand Cru Classe, Saint-Julien 2021 Bottle

Description

Château Léoville-Poyferré is a prestigious winery in the Saint-Julien appellation of Bordeaux, renowned for its exceptional red wine, classified as a Deuxième Cru (Second Growth) in the 1855 Bordeaux Wine Official Classification. The 2021 Léoville-Poyferré has garnered significant acclaim, receiving 96 points from James Suckling for its remarkable depth and complexity, showcasing aromas of cocoa, black olives, and cassis, alongside a full-bodied palate with refined tannins. Vinous also awarded it 96 points, highlighting its rich character with notes of kirsch and blood orange. Decanter rated it 95 points, appreciating its floral aromas and complex layers, while The Wine Advocate gave it 92 points for its minty berries and muscular profile, emphasising the wine’s need for patience as it ages beautifully.

*****

Château Léoville Poyferré was the Léoville that got left in the starting blocks in terms of reputation and in the quality of its wines.

Léoville Poyferré has been owned by the Cuvelier family (who also own Château Le Crock) since 1921, yet it was not until the 1970s, when Didier Cuvelier took control at the château, that quality began to improve. In the last 20 years, Didier, with the assistance of Michel Rolland since 1995, has turned Léoville-Poyferré into one of St-Julien's finest estates.

Léoville Poyferré has 80 hectares of vineyards planted with Cabernet Sauvignon (65%), Merlot (25%), Petit Verdot (8%) and Cabernet Franc (2%).

Léoville Poyferré traditionally produced the softest and most supple wine of the 3 Léovilles, yet in the last decade the wines have definitely put on weight and body. This is largely due to the grapes being harvested riper and later and because of the increased exposure to new oak in the maturation process.

Now up with the best of the St-Juliens but still selling at non-scary prices. Léoville Poyferré is classified as a 2ème Cru Classé.

JAMES SUCKLING 96 points
Excellent depth and complexity with a nice modern touch of cocoa powder to the black olives, pencil shavings, cassis, violets, black mushrooms and dark earth. Full-bodied palate with fresh, vertical tannins and lots of juicy fruit that seamlessly dissolve into the flavorful, persistent finish. Refined power with real length. Drink or hold. - Zekun Shuai, Senior Editor

VINOUS 96 points
The 2021 Léoville-Poyferré has developed into a fabulous wine. Surprisingly rich, the 2021 possesses notable depth. Kirsch, blood orange and wildflowers open first, lending a decidedly exotic, perfumed quality. On the palate, the 2021 is fleshy and expressive. There's a bit of new oak that needs to integrate. Otherwise, the 2021 is impeccably balanced. Tasted two times. - Antonio Galloni

DECANTER 95 points
Tasted by: Georgina Hindle
(at Bordeaux, 01 Apr 2022)
Part of St-Julien 2021 in bottle: Overview plus top-scoring wines
Drinking Window: 2026 - 2047
Beautifully fragranced on the nose - floral-edged ripe bramble fruits. Nicely detailed and presents, despite a clear youthful tannic structure this has layers of flavour with ripe and sweet fruit nuances balanced by a mineral grip, salty touches and cool fresh mint leaf notes. It's more of a contemplative wine, needing a few minutes and several tastes for the flavours to expand in the mouth, gaining in density yet keeping a lightness of touch and refinement. Such finesse going on here. The austerity is balanced with the ripe fruits so you're getting so many elements at play at once. This is complex and sensuous, you have the precise defined and well-worked fruit, so clear with poise, then the tannic strength though fine texture and a long, lifted finish. This has real class, and such estate signature with dark sweet liquorice touches at the end too. Really very captivating and a success. 5% Petit Verdot completes the blend. Julien Viaud consultant. Tasted twice. 3.84pH. Ageing 18 to 20 months in oak barrels, 80% new, 20% one year.

THE WINE ADVOCATE 92 points
Reviewed by: William Kelley
Drink Date: 2025 - 2041
The 2021 Léoville Poyferré opens in the glass with notes of minty berries, dark berry compote, pencil shavings and toasty oak, followed by a medium to full-bodied, deep and dense palate that's quite muscular and extracted, built around a chassis of sweet, abundant tannins that assert themselves on the youthfully firm finish. This will require a bit of patience.