The large blind tastings we host here at Farr Vintners take no prisoners. Up to 250 wines, blind in flights of twelve, tasted over the course of two or three days is hard work. For the panels, consisting of the UK’s key Bordeaux buyers, with writers Jancis Robinson and Neal Martin (and no less than eleven Masters of Wine), they are invaluable. The rewards are golden.
Ringers are discovered: 2022 Tronquoy, 2016 Ormes de Pez: wines that deliver serious quality at prices that are hard to ignore. And then there are the stars of the tasting, the wines on the podium, the wines that are truly great.
Château Léoville Poyferré is a frequent flight winner at both Southwold and the Ten Years On tasting and in the 2016 vintage it is a standout. Not only did it walk the Saint Julien flight, besting the competition by quite some margin, it came third in the tasting overall, scoring higher than all of the first growths bar Lafleur (a six pack of which will set you back £6,500 or so).
Thomas Parker MW, a man who rarely throws big scores around, rates the wine 98 points: “An outstanding Léoville Poyferré that might just be one of the wines of the vintage.” Jancis Robinson rates it 18, with Jane Anson, Jeb Dunnuck and Georgina Hindle of Decanter also at 98.
We can currently offer a small parcel of ex-château 2016 Léoville Poyferré at £450 per six bottles in bond, or £435 per six for orders of one dozen plus. In the context of the tasting this is a no brainer: a wine that easily mixes it with the first growths, from what is undoubtedly one of the finest vintages of the past twenty years in the Northern Médoc, for £75 a bottle in bond. Add the bulletproof provenance to this and it looks even better. We expect Neal Martin’s report on the tasting to be published shortly, though we do not expect this stock to hang around for long.
We have some stock already shipped, with further stocks lying at the château to be shipped later in the year. We have bottles, magnums and double magnums available (large formats are lying at the château).
Tasted blind at the Ten Years On tasting. Deep and still ruby-purple in colour, the nose here is explosive and rich, with full-blooded cassis, cedar, brambles and incense that improve with air, becoming purer and hitting the signature 2016 lift. The palate is deep and powerful, built to age with its chalky, still mouthcoating tannins. But the most impressive thing here is the fruit, which is immediately intense but builds to the finish, fleshing out in ripe but never overblown dark fruit tones. This is a wine of sophistication and joy, the fruit winding between bright acidity, subtle wood smoke and its chalky texture. Seeming to gain energy as it reaches the finish, this is very long, lipsmackingly vibrant despite the ripeness, and keeps you coming back for more. An outstanding Léoville Poyferré that might just be one of the wines of the vintage.
Wow. The power and depth to this wine is super with a full and fleshy palate, yet so tight and integrated with panache and energy. Chewy tannins yet seamless and melted in the wine. Extremely long and beautiful. This needs at least five to six years to resolve the steely tannins that run through this wine. Take a look from 2024. A blend of 61 per cent cabernet sauvignon, 27 per cent merlot, eight per cent merlot and four per cent cabernet franc.
Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2016 Leoville Poyferre is a little shut down at first, slowly yielding scents of warm cassis, plum preserves, and black raspberries, plus hints of tar, licorice, and fragrant earth. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is rich and densely laden with seductive black fruits, supported by firm, rounded tannins and plenty of freshness, finishing long and incredibly pure. This is still so young in color and evolution - amazing!
Immediate depths straight off the aromatics, this is standout in a very strong lineup. Enticing and confident, full of estate signature, juicy and elongated tannins, spiced black fruits, baking spice, crème de cassis, tobacco and sandalwood. 80% new oak for ageing, now fully integrated but still giving a smoky kick.
Tasted blind. Compact, sweet nose. Then pretty tight on the palate. Like essence of blackcurrant mingled with pebbles. Needs time and will never be a heavyweight but it may well be a long-distance runner. [More elegant than some vintages.] 2032-2051
Tasted on four separate occasions where this wine rated 97+, 98, 98, and 99, the 2016 Château Léoville-Poyferré is a brilliant bottle of wine and is certainly in the same league as the 2000, 2003, 2009, and 2010. Made from 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot, and the balance Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc, aged in 80% new oak, this brilliantly concentrated, full-bodied, opulent beast of a wine offers a heavenly bouquet of crème de cassis, blackcurrants, smoked earth, tobacco leaf, and ample crushed rocks. It’s certainly one of the most flamboyant and opulent wines in the vintage, yet it remains perfectly balanced, with masses of polished tannins, no hard edges, and a fabulous finish. It will be drinkable in 3-4 years yet keep for 3-4 decades. Drink 2022-2062.
What a wine - such class from the excellent 2016 vintage. A touch of meatiness to the nose with bacon, green peppers and black pepper. So expansive in the mouth while at the same time seeming a little closed or perhaps on its way to closing down. Soft tannins, fine grained giving real presence but they're well integrated. Sophisticated and broad shouldered, this has a soft attack but giving such depth on the mid palate. Bold, powerful and well presented. A classic expression of claret and the St-Julien signature characteristics of minerality, graphite, slate, wet stone and juicy blackcurrant and plum. Closer to the style of 2010, still very tannic with the chalky, mineral texture standing out. Lovely definition and concentration all while being so refined. This will age for decades. 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc, 6% Petit Verdot. Harvest 5-20 October. Drink 2027-2048.
The 2016 Léoville-Poyferré appears to have closed up a bit on the nose, perhaps a little cowed by the strong showing of the 2015 on this occasion. It is very pure and begins to unfurl with aeration, but the aromatics are not coming out to play today. The palate is medium-bodied with fine boned tannins, beautifully proportioned and symmetrical. The oak is seamlessly integrated with a citrus touch on the finish. This will be awesome, but it will need time in bottle. Tasted at the Léoville-Poyferré vertical at the château with Sara Lecompte Cuvelier.
Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Léoville Poyferré hits the ground running with intense cassis, violets, dark chocolate, menthol and fragrant earth notions complemented by nuances of cigar box and smoked meats. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is charged with energetic, super intense black fruit and floral layers, beautifully supported with super firm, ripe, grainy tannins and seamless freshness. This liquid is simply alive in the mouth, culminating in an epically long finish that will leave your mouth practically tingling. WOW! Drink 2021 - 2050.
