Château Léoville Poyferré, 2ème Cru Classé, St Julien, 2015
We had the privilege to taste the component parts of Didier Cuvelier's flagship wine in February. It was fascinating to see the results after blending. It is much more structured and firm that the exotic barrel samples suggested. Spice, violets, decadent hedgerow fruit, toast, cigar smoke, vanilla and mineral notes leap from the glass. On the palate, this is big and opulent with ample nuanced mineral infused dark berry fruit, globs of glycerol and briar wood. The tannins are large-scale and caress the mouth with sweet purple fruit. This is certainly the least reserved of the Leoville estates!
critic reviews
The 2015 Léoville Poyferré is a delightful Saint-Julien that instantly has you smitten. Vivacious red fruit, briary and orange pith aromas unfold in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with svelte tannins (like before). It is very harmonious and poised with a finish that just sashays along without a care in the world. Wonderful. Tasted at the 2015 Ten-Year-On tasting at Bordeaux Index.
Cumin, smoked cinnamon, blackberry and cassis, with a slate scrape of tannins, this conveys plenty of estate signature and rises above shortcomings of 2015 in this corner of the region. You can find more concentrated Poyferrés in the estate's back vintages, but that makes it a great moment to begin drinking. Remarkably similar to the last time I tasted this two years ago, suggesting that this is very much in peak drinking, and will continue to deliver over the next decade at least. Harvest September 24 to October 10. 80% new oak for ageing.
The 2015 Leoville Poyferre is medium to deep garnet colored. It needs a fair bit of coaxing to unlock notes of blueberry pie, kirsch, and blackcurrant pastilles, plus touches of garrigue, potpourri, and dusty soil. The medium-bodied palate is very tightly wound and youthful still, delivering a frame of firm, ripe tannins and tons of freshness, finishing long and earthy.