Château Léoville Poyferré, 2ème Cru Classé, St Julien, 2021

Name: Château Léoville Poyferré, 2ème Cru Classé, St Julien
Brand: Château Léoville Poyferré
Price: 536.74 GBP

Available Vintages

all 1989 2004 2009 2014 2019 2021 2022 2023 2024

justerini & brooks tasting note

One of the highest performing chateau in recent years at Southwold, Leoville Poyferre is on a fine run of form, and is frequently amongst the top wines of St Julien. Sara Lecompte Cuvelier describes 2021 as a "victorious vintage" one that required, "patience, endurance, determination, adaptation", but ultimately ended in "reward". They only achieved yields of 24 hl/ha, but the sacrifices were worthwhile, they have been compensated with a really handsome, chiselled grand vin. Opening with a delightful, gentle perfume of dried flowers, cherry fruit, graphite and spices. This has a lovely sense of detail and fine structure, although the core is plump with a quite modern profile. The palate is superb: taut, vibrant, pure, bright and very seductive, with well integrated oak. Another highly successful Poyferre. 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot and 9% Cabernet Franc.

critic reviews

93/100Lisa Perrotti-Brown,The Wine Independent

A blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Petit Verdot, the 2021 Leoville Poyferre has a deep garnet-purple color. Notes of blackberries, warm cassis, and kirsch jump from the glass, opening out to an undercurrent of fragrant soil, charcoal, and cinnamon stick. The medium-bodied palate delivers an impressive intensity of vivacious red and black berry flavors, with a fine-grained texture and plenty of freshness, finishing with great length and a compelling perfume.

DRINKING WINDOW 2027 - 2052

date of review 04/2024

95/100Jane Anson,Inside Bordeaux

Vivid plum colour, not quite inky but certainly one of the deeper of the vintage, and this is well extracted, carefully balanced with cloves, sage and white pepper spice, blueberry fruit, with coffee and cocoa bean, with silky tannins. Good ageing potential. Michel Rolland consultant, 45% new oak, 45% 1st wine, 24hl/h yield. Harvest September 28 to October 12. Tasted twice, absolutely one to look out for, one of the wines of the vintage, to lay down but not for as long as in a normal year. A great example of where 2021 can really offer something worth taking up.

DRINKING WINDOW 2027 - 2041

date of review 04/2024

93/100Neal Martin,Vinous

The 2021 Léoville-Poyferré, which was bottled in early June 2023, has a generous bouquet with black cherries, boysenberry, hints of incense and eucalyptus scents that become more pronounced as it opens in the glass. After five minutes, a touch of melted dark chocolate emerges. The palate is beautifully balanced. This is velvety smooth with impressive underlying tension, not the most powerful or extravagant Léoville-Poyferré, yet it delivers impressive persistence and a sense of control on the finish. This bodes well for the future.

DRINKING WINDOW 2026 - 2050

date of review 02/2024

92/100William Kelley,Robert Parker Wine Advocate

The 2021 Leoville Poyferre opens in the glass with notes of minty berries, dark berry compote, pencil shavings and toasty oak, followed by a medium to full-bodied, deep and dense palate that's quite muscular and extracted, built around a chassis of sweet, abundant tannins that assert themselves on the youthfully firm finish. This will require a bit of patience.

DRINKING WINDOW 2025 - 2041

date of review 02/2024