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Léoville Poyferré 2011

RegionBordeaux
Subregion France > Bordeaux > Left Bank > St Julien
ColourRed
TypeStill
Grape VarietyCabernet Sauvignon/Merlot
Also available in the following mixed case:

View all vintages of this wine | View all wines by Château Léoville Poyferré

Label

Tasting Notes

This property, which has been on a qualitative tear over the last generation, has produced one of the most successful wines of 2011. A blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and the rest Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc, it is broad, rich, medium to full-bodied and dense. It boasts an inky/purple color as well as lots of concentration, silky tannins, and a bigger, richer mouthfeel than any of its St.-Julien peers. The result is one of the stars of the vintage.

94
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (212), May 2014

The 2011 Léoville Poyferré has a ripe bouquet with blackberry, boysenberry, graphite and pressed flower scents. Quite open and more fruit-driven than its peers. The palate is medium-bodied with gentle grip, quite fine tannins and satisfying weight. Touches of black pepper and cedar line the finish, though here, it just misses a bit of tension and Poyferré's trademark amplitude. Tasted blind at the annual 10-Year-On tasting. 2022 - 2038

91
Neal Martin, vinous.com, April 2022

Blackberry and currant aromas with hints of minerals. Full body, firm tannins and a fresh finish. Chewy and reserved. Just the right amount of fruit covering the tannins. Harmony for the vintage. Better in 2017.

93
James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, February 2014

Like its neighbour Léoville Barton, Poyferré is always very good value for money when first offered en primeur (compared with Lascases anyway!). The consistently high quality and modest price mean that Poyferre is always a wine to consider purchasing en primeur as mature vintages tend to be much more expensive. Consultant oenologue Michel Rolland produces wines with a smoother, more fleshy character than the seriously structured wines of its neighbours. The result is a delicious St Julien that can usually charm early in its life and can stand the test of time. Made from a lower percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon than most Saint Juliens, this is 58% Cabernet Sauvignon with the rest Merlot and a dash of Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc, aged in 75% new oak. A dark, impressively black, colour. Lovely spice on the nose and plump for the vintage. A very well-rounded, smooth palate. This is a wine with rare opulence for the vintage. Impeccably balanced with some spicy oak and ripe tannins complimenting the smooth fruit. A 2011 that will give pleasure.

93+
Farr Vintners, March 2012

The nose is rich deep black fruited profound. It feels fresher on the start of the palate with hints of red fruits that lighten and bring out a touch of spice. The back palate is sweet fruited well supported by the tannic structure.

90/93
Derek Smedley MW, April 2012

Deeply coloured and ambitiously oaked, this is a wine that needs time to integrate in barrel. At the moment, the oak flavours and tannins hold the upper hand, but beneath the staves there are appealing flavours of green malt, mint and tea leaf. I just hope that that the oak won't dry the fruit out over time. 8+ years.

93
Tim Atkin MW, timatkin.com, April 2012

Well-extracted blackcurrant Cabernet fruit, very good ripeness and good tannins, an impression of power with elegance to come later. Drink 2017-2035

17.5
Steven Spurrier, Decanter.com, April 2012
Read more tasting notes...

Another super effort from this estate, Leoville Poyferre-s 2011 possesses an opaque purple color in addition to a ripe, fragrant nose of black currant fruit, cedar, white chocolate and a touch of oak. Rich, layered and medium to full-bodied with unmistakable elegance and purity, vibrant acids and a fresh, lively personality, it will need 3-4 years of cellaring and should keep for two decades.

91/94
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (200), April 2012

The Chateau Leoville Poyferre is a blend of 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot and 6% Cabernet Franc picked between 19th September and 1st October, sorted by optical machine. Astonishingly, it has a higher IPT than in 2010 at 94 compared to 82 last year. It has an attractive bouquet with fine delineation and freshness, fine tension and poise with exuberant blackberry and wild strawberry fruit infused with cedar and crushed stone. The palate is medium-bodied with tensile tannins, a sharp thread of citric acidity and very good weight. It lacks a little harmony towards the finish that shows a little hardness, but I think this will soften to turn out to be one of the finest Saint Julien wines in a difficult vintage. Tasted April 2012.

92/94
Neal Martin, RobertParker.com, April 2012

This shows a currant and berries with dark chocolate character. Full and chewy with a bright acidity. Structured too. A little austere. Wait and see. Only about 40% of the normal production. 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, and 6% Petit Verdot.

91/92
James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, April 2012
Please note that these tasting notes/scores are not intended to be exhaustive and in some cases they may not be the most recently published figures. However, we always do our best to add latest scores and reviews when these come to our attention. We advise customers who wish to purchase wines based simply on critical reviews to carry out further research into the latest reports.