Chateau Leoville Poyferre 2024

ANSON: "Impressive texture, slate wrapped in silky tannins, with real depth of flavour, black cherry and damson fruit, no dip through the mid palate, and a long finish. Maintains estate signature, shows generosity and confidence, one of the wines of the vintage. Alix Combe vineyard director, Isabelle David oenologist. Harvest 24 September to 10 October. 3.71 pH. 26.42 hl/ha."

WEINWISSER: "64 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 27 % Merlot, 8 % Cabernet Franc, 1 % Petit Verdot, 27 hl/ha. Dicht verwobenes, ungemein tiefgründiges Bouquet, Wildkirsche, Grafit und Heidekraut. Im zweiten Ansatz Schattenmorellensaft und Granatapfel. Am komplexen Gaumen mit seidiger Textur, balancierter Rasse, gutem Zug, engmaschigem Tanninkorsett, durchtrainiertem Körper mit beeindruckenden Muskeln. Im katapultartigen Finale springt der Wein wie Usain Bolt aus dem Startblock, schwarze Johannisbeere, dunkle Mineralik und feinmehlige Adstringenz."

DECANTER: "Blackcurrants, milk chocolate, raspberry and red cherry. Sleek and smooth, instantly silky and just so welcoming on the palate. This has concentration but with an almost sweet acidity, pure fruit and powdery tannins. It’s certainly not lacking in power, with a generous mouthfeel that’s really balanced between push, fun, fruitiness, acidity and tannins. A great Poyferré and success for the vintage. It doesn't shout, but it’s super enjoyable. Classy and chewy and fleshy while still having elegance. I love this. One of the few estates to use reverse osmosis to keep concentration. 1% Petit Verdot completes the blend. Ageing 80% new oak. 3.71pH. Tasted three times."

JEB DUNNUCK: "Looking at the Grand Vin, the 2024 Château Léoville Poyferré is based on 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. It shows deep purple hues and classic notes of cassis, lead pencil, graphite, crushed stone, and violets. Pure, polished, and elegant on the palate, it has perfectly ripe tannins and plays in the forward, charming style of the vintage while still delivering plenty of depth and richness. It's aging in 80% new French oak for 18 to 20 months."

JAMES SUCKLING: "A bit closed and almost steely at the moment. At the same time, there is depth and huge structure, showing black cherries, mulberries, fine spices and violets. Full-bodied, this has heaps of very small-grained, dusty tannins on the palate and a long finish. A concentrated wine. Wait and see."

VINUM: "Deutlich reiffruchtiger als andere Weine der Appellation, noch etwas vom Holz geprägt, jedoch mit guter aromatischer Komplexität; am Gaumen von mittlerem bis kräftigem Körper, wie gewohnt gut strukturiert, mit einer gewissen Opulenz, ohne dabei schwerfällig zu wirken; rotfruchtiger Abgang, gute aromatische Persistenz."

FALSTAFF: "Dunkles Rubingranat, opaker Kern, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Frische schwarze Waldbeeren, Cassis, Nuancen von Kirschen, floral, dezente Holzwürze ist unterlegt. Saftig, elegant, straffe Textur, frisch strukturiert, mineralisch, rotbeerige Nuancen im Nachhall, gutes Potenzial."

LISA PERROTTI-BROWN: "Deep garnet-purple in color. Needs a little swirling to coax out notes of fresh black and red currants and pencil shavings, giving way to nuances of iris, black olives, and damp soil. The light to medium-bodied palate delivers a sturdy structure of firm, grainy tannins and plenty of freshness to match the muscular black and red fruit flavors, finishing with good length if a little grippy."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "Offering up aromas of jammy berries and toasty oak, the 2024 Léoville Poyferré is a blend of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot. Medium-bodied, dense and blocky, it's firm, tannic and chewy, with some green characteristics vying with its creamy patina of new wood. Harvest took place between 24 September and 10 October, and some lots saw some reverse osmosis."