Château Léoville Poyferré Saint-Julien 2019 - 2nd Grand Cru Classé

Bettane & Desseauve

About wine:

Great color, with the distinctive character of Léoville, namely a slightly fuller texture and firmer tannins than the wines of the Beychevelle sector, and a more earthy way of asserting its connection to the gravelly soil that gives it life. Clearly a great future ahead.

About the estate:

The vineyard is located in a privileged position opposite the best plots of Léoville-Las Cases and in line with those of Pichon-Longueville Baron. The wine perfectly reflects this location, regularly ranking among the most powerful but also the most complex and harmonious in the entire Médoc region. A slightly higher percentage of Merlot than the other two Léovilles gives it a slightly rounder texture. Didier Cuvelier is taking semi-retirement but will of course continue to ensure the continuity of the excellence he has established. Pavillon-de-Poyferré, now the château's true second wine, is progressing, as is Moulin-Riche, now produced from its own vineyard, rather like Clos-du-Marquis in relation to the Léoville grand vin.

Decanter

About wine:

3% Petit Verdot and 3% Cabernet Franc add extra subtlety to this high-class Saint-Julien. The nose has a pronounced exotic character, with Asian spices and cedar wood, combined with fleshy plums and juicy blackberries. The palate is softer than many other Haut-Médoc wines and shows great balance and remarkable purity. It will drink well at a (relatively) young age. 2025-2042

Guide Hachette des vins

About wine:

With its distinctive dark burgundy color, this wine stands out for its intense aromas of ripe grapes, characteristic of the very sunny 2019 vintage. Its maturity also infuses a palate that is as broad as it is long, powerful, warm, and impressively dense, with virile tannins. A superlative Saint-Julien with great aging potential. 2028-2038

About the estate:

Like the two other wines produced on the former Léoville estate, Poyferré, named after the Count of Poyferré, who came from a noble family in Armagnac and inherited the vineyard from his wife during the division, benefits from a prime terroir. Covering an area of 80 hectares, it is spread across the entire commune of Saint-Julien: to the east, near the Gironde, there are brown gravel and pebbles; to the west, black sand. These assets have been enhanced since 1979 by Didier Cuvelier, whose family, former wine merchants in Lille, acquired the property in 1920.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About wine:

Léoville Poyferré 2019 presents itself very well in the bottle, with aromas of crème de cassis and wild berries mingled with notes of licorice, clay soil, cigar wrapper, and smoke. Full-bodied, velvety, and polished, it is enveloping with a rich fruit core, ripe tannins, and succulent acidity, ending with a long and precise finish. Consistently the most sumptuous of the three Léovilles, with around 35% Merlot, the 2019 is a tremendous effort that will offer a wide window of consumption. 2027-2057

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About wine:

The 2019 vintage is locked at this stage, very concentrated, rich, tight on the finish, but also marked by its wood. It has all the ingredients to become a fine bottle in a decade... patience. It is the most massive of the appellation's wines.

About the estate:

Since the late 1970s and the arrival of Didier Cuvelier, this second growth has been completely renovated. Many plots have been replanted and the winemaking equipment updated. The vines are now of a respectable age and the wine is in the running for excellence within an appellation that has no shortage of challengers. The wines possess a vitality and fullness that now place them at the top of the appellation. The terroir gives Poyferré wines their deep color, full-bodied and lively texture, broad spicy bouquet, and potential for longevity.

Vinous

About wine:

Léoville-Poyferré 2019 is creamy, racy, and voluptuous to perfection. Bright red cherry and plum, blood orange, mint, spices, and menthol fill the layers with effortless grace. In some tastings, the 2019 proved to be quite powerful, while at other times it showed greater finesse. Either way, this 2019 is absolutely breathtaking. I greatly admire its energy and persistence. Tasted 3 times. 2029-2049

Terre de Vins

About wine:

The nose is extremely delicate, taking us on a journey from lavender to black cherry, from morello cherry to chalky notes. This wine is in a league of its own. The attack is frank, bursting with black fruit, and black cherry explodes in the mouth. It is a high-flying wine, bursting with freshness. Density and precision, desire and voluptuousness. Léoville Poyferré suggests a great wine for aging. It is the result of work on the material that begins in the vineyard and continues in the cellar, with a focus on purity. A very nice release!

The Wine Cellar Insider - Jeff Leve

About wine:

One of Léoville Poyferré's finest vintages, the wine displays a beautiful dark color in the glass. The nose opens with aromas of black and red fruits, espresso, cocoa, tobacco leaves, smoke, and flowers. On the palate, the wine shines with its multiple layers of deep, ripe, sensual red fruit, silky, polished tannins, and a long, vibrant finish with multiple layers and a pulpy texture. This wine will age and evolve for decades without any problems. Drink between 2027 and 2055.