Chateau Leoville Poyferre 2023

WEINWISSER: "62 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 32 % Merlot, 4 % Cabernet Franc, 2 % Petit Verdot, 13.1 Vol.-%, 52.78 hl/ha. Dicht verwobenes blau- und schwarzbeeriges Bouquet, exotische Hölzer, Brasil-Tabak und Schokopastillen. Am komplexen Gaumen mit seidiger Textur, engmaschigem Tanninkorsett, balancierter Rasse, sehr straffem muskulösem Körper, dicht und präzise. Im konzentrierten, noblen und schwarzbeerigen Finale, tiefschürfende dunkle Mineralik, Blutorangenzeste und körnige Adstringenz. Der kann noch zulegen. "Nobel und großzügig" fasst Inhaberin Sara den Jahrgang zusammen."

DECANTER: "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. 52.78hl/ha. 10% press wine. 2% Petit Verdot completes the blend. 55% grand vin production."

JEB DUNNUCK: "As to the Grand Vin 2023 Château Léoville Poyferré, it's similarly purple-hued and has a perfumed, upfront profile in its red and black fruits as well as notes of graphite, spicy wood, and spring flowers. It's quintessential Saint-Julien on the palate with its supple, elegant profile, and it’s medium to full-bodied, with a deep, layered mid-palate, gorgeous tannins, and a great finish. It's a stunning 2023 with depth, richness, and length. The blend is 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 2% Petit Verdot."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Flowers, cherry pipe tobacco, herbs, currants, black raspberries, licorice, and smoke open the perfume. On the palate, the wine is silky, vibrant, rich, and refined. There is freshness, with ample fruit, which allows you to focus on the finish which is all about the sweet, clean, and pure red fruits with their lift, and energy. This is interestingly light on its feet, yet it is no featherweight wine. Holding its own, this is quite fresh, almost vivacious on the palate. and in the red berry finish. The oak already feels well integrated into the wine. The wine blends 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot. 13% ABV, Drink from 2028-2055."

JAMES SUCKLING: "This is already very pretty and polished with plenty of currant and plum character. Medium- to full-bodied with creamy, round tannins and a juicy finish. Caressing. Very refined."

VINUM: "Noch vom Ausbau geprägt, intensive Frucht, Tabak, Kiefer; weicher Auftakt, mit Biss, Rasse und Würze sowie einer hervorragenden Säure; sehr lang; dürfte mit dem Ausbau noch zulegen."

FALSTAFF: "Tintig-tiefdunkles Rubingranat, opaker Kern, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Zarte Brombeernuancen, reife Herzkirschen, ein Hauch von Cassis und Edelholz. Straff, elegant, dunkle Beerenfrucht, feine, integrierte Tannine, kühler, gut anhaftender Stil, zeigt Länge und Potenzial, in diesem Jahr in einem balancierten, eleganten Stil."

LISA PERROTTI-BROWN: "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. The blend is 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot, with pH 3.68 and TPI 76."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "Aromas of cassis, plums, pencil shavings and toasty new oak introduce the 2023 Léoville Poyferré, a medium to full-bodied, rich and chunky wine with a deep core of succulent fruit framed by sweet, generously extracted tannins. It's a blend of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot that saw some saignée and osmosis for additional concentration. As usual, it's the creamiest, most "modern"-styled of the three Léovilles. Harvest began on September 14 and concluded on October 5, with fermentations a little cooler than usual, perhaps an intimation of a stylistic evolution in progress."

JANCIS ROBINSON: "Ripe, full and pure. Generous fruit but not overplayed. Fine but plentiful tannins. Length and freshness. Harmonious but less power than some years. Drink 2033 - 2048."