Château LEOVILLE POYFERRE 2023

Description

Neal Martin 95-97 www.vinous.com
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.

Yves Beck 95-97 points www.yvesbeck.wine
Que de subtilité, de clarté et de finesse dans le bouquet de Poyferré. Des nuances florales telles que pivoines se mêlent à des notes de groseilles, de réglisse et d’épices douces complétées par de classique nuances de graphite. Dense et profond, le vin affiche une sérénité convaincante. Il commence par être charmant, mais cela ne l’empêche pas d’également souligner sa puissance, son tempérament et, au final, de mettre en avant son équilibre. Un vin exceptionnel, long, invitant et apte à défier les décennies à venir !  2030-2053

Jean-Marc Quarin 96 points www.quarin.com
Couleur noire. Nez intense, fin, pur, fruité et complexe. Touche de fruits noirs, de réglisse et goudron. Charnu en entrée de bouche, charnu au milieu, avec de la classe dans le toucher et beaucoup de goût, le vin fond sur le palais. Il évolue opulent et aromatique, vers une longue finale séveuse et parfumée. Il y a du vin dans le verre et c’est superbe ! Assemblage : 62 % cabernet sauvignon, 32 % merlot, 4 % cabernet franc, 2 % petit verdot. Degré d’alcool : 13°10 – pH : 3,68 – IPT : 76. Rendement : 52 hl/ha. Sélection : 55 % de premier vin.

Antonio Galloni 95-97 www.vinous.com
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.

Georgina Hindle 96 points  www.decanter.com (at Bordeaux, 01 Apr 2022)
Bramble fruit tones on the nose with some floral elements of peony, violet and rose. Smells rich and ripe and quite opulent. Smooth and agile, a lovely energy straight away with bright, almost high-toned fruit, the acidity giving the lift and sense of freshness. Lean and straight but so juicy so you get the relatively tight structure but with mouthwatering acidity and a touch of sweetness adding bounce and pep to the expression. It’s still quite compact in terms of real expansion but there’s a long length. Really suave, almost subtle and dialled back which is great and the juiciness is totally moreish. I love it. Easy, generous, appealing. 52.78hl/ha. 10% press wine. 2% Petit Verdot completes the blend. 55% grand vin production.

William Kelley 93-95 points www.erobertparker.com
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.