Chateau Leoville Poyferre 2022

JEB DUNNUCK: "I was blown away by the 2022 Château Léoville Poyferré, which is a classic blend of 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, and 4% each of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Harvest spanned from the 8th to the 28th of September, the vinification is in tronconique tanks (parcel by parcel), and the élevage will span 18-20 months in 80% new barrels. This inky hued beauty offers that rare mix of power and elegance and offers ample cassis and assorted blue fruits, full-bodied richness, an opulent, concentrated, yet flawlessly balanced mouthfeel, velvety tannins, and plenty of classic Saint-Julien violets, espresso roast, and crushed stone-like minerality. Despite its incredible concentration and depth, it stays beautifully balanced. In a region that seems to only talk about finesse and elegance, it's a relief to still have producers such as this producing powerful, intense, singular wines. Hats off to the Cuvelier family and their team."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Deeply colored, the floral display in the nose gets even better as you encounter black cherries, currants, licorice, tobacco leaf, cassis, and an array of spices. The palate provides layers of silky, fresh, pure, deep red berries. The wine is dense, concentrated, sweet, ripe, fresh, and polished. There is a wonderful sense of purity in the fruit. Effortless to taste, and even even easier to drink, the wine exudes sensuality, and complexity from start to finish. The wine blends 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, and 4% Petit Verdot. 14.4% ABV, 3.87 pH. The harvest took place September 8 - September 28. Yields were 33 hectoliters per hectare. 75% of the harvest went into the Grand Vin. Drink from 2026-2055."

WEINWISSER: "58 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 34 % Merlot, 4 % Cabernet Franc, 4 % Petit Verdot, pH 3.87, 33.4 hl/ha, 14.4 Vol.-%. Dicht verwobenes Bouquet, betörendes Veilchenparfüm, Wildkirsche und Graphit, dahinter Waldbeerencocktail, getrocknete Fliederblüten und Heidelbeergelee. Am geradlinigen, kraftvollen Gaumen mit seidiger Textur, balancierter Rasse, engmaschigem Tanninkorsett, tiefgründig und dicht, feinkörniges Extrakt und durchtrainierter Körper. Im konzentrierten, langanhaltenden Finale explodiert der St. Julien mit Brombeeren, tiefschürfender Terroirwürze und mehliger Adstringenz. Das Kraftpaket hat mit diesem Jahrgang erneut seine Extraklasse bewiesen. Lese: 08. - 28. September. 2030 – 2055."

FALSTAFF: "Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, opaker Kern, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Attraktive dunkle Waldbeernuancen, Brombeeren, Cassis, Edelholz und Tabak, einladendes Bukett. Kraftvoll, komplex, dunkle Frucht, feste, tragende Tannine, schokoladig im Abgang, mineralisch und sehr lange anhaftend, großes Potenzial, sehr balanciert."

LISA PERROTTI-BROWN: „The 2022 Leoville Poyferre is made from 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, and 4% Petit Verdot, with a yield of 33.4 hl/ha. It bursts onto the scene with gregarious scents of blackcurrant preserves, wild blueberries, and rose oil, leading to wafts of candied violets, licorice, and crushed rocks with a hint of cinnamon stick. The medium to full-bodied palate is rich, plush, and impactful, delivering beautiful tension and very respectable, fine-grained tannins, finishing long and opulent. This is a show-stopper! pH 3.87, TPI 93."

JAMES SUCKLING: "A very solid LP with black berry, blackcurrant, crushed stone and lavender character. Full and really well structured with a linear length to it. Focused and so polished. Thoughtful. 58% cabernet sauvignon, 34% merlot, 4% cabernet franc and 4% petit verdot."

DECANTER: "Another excellent showcasse for this estate run by Sara Lecompte Cuvelier. Supple, lively, fresh and round, a nice controlled core of red and black fruit - blackcurrants, cherries and violets with juicy acidity and lean tannins that are fine and well integrated. This feels powerful and concentrated no doubt but the strength comes underneath the fruit and acidity, like a creeping tiger waiting to pounce. Lovely frame and execution, feels on the more opulent and potent side but the acidity and tannin definition is brilliant and this has a really drinkable and moreish quality. 4% Petit Verdot completes the blend. 3.87pH. 9% press wine. A yield of 33.4hl/ha. 75% grand vin production. Julien Viaud consultant. Tasted three times and was impressed each time. Ageing 18-20 months in French oak barrels, 80% new, 20% second fill."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "The 2022 Léoville Poyferré has turned out very nicely, offering up aromas of crème de cassis, cherries, violets and creamy new oak, followed by a medium to full-bodied, rich and fleshy palate that's ripe but lively, with supple tannins and a long, vanillin-inflected finish. This year, the team began picking their Merlot comparatively early and didn't perform a saignée (tank bleed), given the natural concentration of the vintage, though it remains the most flamboyant and demonstrative of the three Léoville estates, seeing some 80% new oak with malolactic fermentation in barrique for the new barrels. It will be a blend of 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot and the balance Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot."

VINUM: "Zurückhaltende Aromatik von Eiche und schwarzen Beeren, vergnügliche blumige Noten auch, Veilchen; wuchtiger Auftakt, kräftige Entwicklung über erstklassigem Tannin, verhaltenes Feuer im Ausklang; verbindet Jahrgangsstil mit Gutstypizität."

JANCIS ROBINSON: "Elegant and complex, fresh and alluring, the texture seductive and suave. Cassis and cedar notes with a hint of mint. Powerful but creamy tannins. Plenty of drive with length and grip on the finish. Clearly has potential."