Château Léoville Poyferre Saint-Julien 2016

Critical Acclaim: 98 pts Decanter; 98 pts Jeb Dunnuck; 97 pts Wine Spectator; 97 pts Robert Parker's Wine Advocate; 97 pts James Suckling; 95 pts Wine Enthusiast

Winemaker's Tasting Notes: Deep purplish color. On the nose dense, fresh, and complex with subtle notes of ripe fruit and spices. On the palate, the attack is frank and fleshy with a full and creamy mid palate. The tannic structure is dense and powerful. The finish is very long and persistent, supported by pleasant empyreumatic notes.

"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. Drinking window: 2027-2048" - Decanter

"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. Drinking window: 2022-2062" - Jeb Dunnuck

"Richly layered, with a core of well-steeped plum, blackberry and black currant fruit flavors cruising through, flanked by ganache, sweet tobacco and warm tar notes. There's a plush, toasty coating but the wine's energy and nearly unbridled fruit will easily soak that up. A last echo of violet is further evidence of a lovely evolution ahead. Best from 2025 through 2040. " - Wine Spectator

"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! Drinking window: 2021-2050" - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate"

"Wow. The power and depth to this wine is super with a full , fleshy palate. Yet, it’s so tight and integrated with panache and energy. Chewy tannins, yet seamless and melted into the wine. Extremely long and beautiful. Very polished now. 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." -James Suckling

"Ripe, bold fruits mark out this opulent wine. Its rich tannins are typical of the estate and of the vintage. Serious concentration is balanced with good acidity to give a generous wine that also has the structure for aging. Drink from 2025." - Wine Enthusiast

About the Winery: The origin of Léoville goes back to 1638. Following various divisions and successions, Léoville Poyferre was born in 1840. In the 1855 classification of Medoc wines, it was endowed the rank of Second Grand Cru Classe. In 1920 the Cuvelier family acquired Chateau Leoville Poyferre, as well as Chateau Moulin Riche. Intimately linked since the 19th century, their wines reflect all the richness and diversity of the terroirs of the Saint-Julien appellation. Their style is echoed with their second wines, Pavillon de Leoville Poyferre and M de Moulin Riche respectfully. Complementary and produced from the younger vines, they invite us to anticipate the fine, fruit forward character of the Grands Vins.

Varietal: 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot; 2% Cabernet Franc