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Léoville Poyferré 2023

RegionBordeaux
Subregion France > Bordeaux > Left Bank > St Julien
ColourRed
TypeStill
Grape VarietyCabernet Sauvignon/Merlot

Like its neighbour Léoville Barton, Poyferré usually offers good value for money when first offered en primeur. The wines here are more smooth, ripe and fleshy than the seriously structured wines of Barton and Lascases. The result is a delicious St Julien that can usually charm early in its life and can stand the test of time. A frequent winner of blind tastings. Plantings in the 80 hectare vineyard are 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot and 6% Cabernet Franc. Fruit from the younger vines goes into "Le Pavillon de Poyferré" whilst "Moulin Riche"is made from a separate part of the vineyard.

The 2023 harvest here was from a yield was 51 hl/ha and the blend is 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot. 13 degrees alcohol. Extraction was limited to preserve freshness and the Estate believe that it is in the style of the 2016, albeit less concentrated.

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

Label

Tasting Notes

The 2023 Léoville-Poyferré was picked from September 14 until October 5 at 52.78hL/ha and aged in slightly less new oak than usual, simply because of the large volume. In fact, some of the lots commenced their malolactic fermentation in vat rather than barrel. This has an intense bouquet with black cherries and iodine, becoming more floral with aeration. The palate opens with a medium body and pliant tannins, fleshy and ripe, dovetailing into a dense and multi-tiered mid-palate. Typical Poyferré in style, blood orange and light graphite notes are embroidered into the ripe black fruit, and there is noticeable glycerol on the finish. It is perhaps the most opulent of the three Léovilles, and yet it arrives with a modest 13.1% alcohol. This is a contender for the best Saint-Julien in show.

95/97
Neal Martin, vinous.com, April 2024

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.

93/95
William Kelley, Wine Advocate, April 2024

Deep ruby-purple in colour, an alluring, dark and smoky nose shows elements of soy sauce, incense and blackberry. The palate is creamy and polished, with layers of sweet red and cooler black fruit. Quite chalky and dense for the vintage, there is impressive underlying power here. Ripe but well managed, this is plush with notes of star anise and bramble but always managed by refreshing acidity and tamed by pithy, persistent tannins. Long, exotic finish.

94/96
Thomas Parker MW, Farr Vintners, April 2024

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.

95/96
James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, April 2024

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.

93/95+
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, The Wine Independent, May 2024

Brilliant Poyferré, deep ruby colour, setting the scene for ink, campfire, espresso, mint, cassis and damson. Concentrated but with a delicious balance, this feels effortless and is truly a wine for Bordeaux lovers to seek out. Harvest September 14 to October 5. 80% new oak, 52hl/h yields, biggest since 2004, with more 1st wine than usual because the old Cabernet Sauvignon plots gave quality and quantity (after three low quantity years). Alix Combes new vineyard manager, replacing long time manager Bruno Clenet.

98
Jane Anson, JaneAnson.com, April 2024

The 2023 Léoville-Poyferré is positively stellar. Medium in body, vibrant and beautifully persistent, the 2023 is all class. It also signals a shift away from the richer (but equally successful) style favored here in the recent past, now moving toward an approach that favors more vibrancy. Dark red-toned fruit, blood orange, spice, mocha and cedar infuse the 2023 with notable freshness and verve. The new Léoville-Poyferré is quite the stunner. Tasted two times. 2028-2063

95/97
Antonio Galloni, vinous.com, April 2024

62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot. 52.8 hl/ha. Cask sample.
Ripe, full and pure. Generous fruit but not overplayed. Fine but plentiful tannins. Length and freshness. Harmonious but less power than some years. (JL) 13.1%
Drink 2033 – 2048

17+
James Lawther MW, JancisRobinson.com, May 2024
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.