Chateau Leoville Poyferre 1996

WEINWISSER: "Tiefgründiges, würziges, kräftiges Bouquet, Tabak, Lakritze, schwarze Beeren, Hühnerbouillon, Cassis. Dichter, vielschichtiger, kraftvoller, eleganter Gaumen mit viel gutem Tannin, kräftiger, süsser Aromatik, samtener, fein muskulöser Struktur, sehr langer, dichter Abgang. 19/20 trinken - 2034"

DECANTER: "The colour is starting to take on the brick-edged ruby that fully mature Bordeaux reaches and retains for decades in the best cases. Freshness is still very much in play, along with tobacco, cigar box and eucalyptus. 1996 was a brilliant vintage in the Médoc and it shows. This is a near perfect 20-year-old Bordeaux; there is the generous signature of Léoville Poyferré wine but at this point St-Julien balance and finesse has taken over, just relax and enjoy the results."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "This fabulous 1996 was tasted three times from bottle, and it is unquestionably the finest wine produced by this estate since their blockbuster 1990. Medium to full-bodied, with a saturated black/purple color, the nose offers notes of cedar, jammy black fruits, smoke, truffles, and subtle new oak. In the mouth, there is impressive fruit extraction, a tannic, full-bodied structure, and a classic display of power and finesse. The longer it sat in the glass, the more impressive the wine became. Backward, and massive in terms of its extract and richness, this should prove to be a sensational Leoville-Poyferre for drinking over the next three decades. Anticipated maturity: 2007-2028."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "The perfume offers a smoky bouquet of scents with cassis, cigar box, cedar wood, blackberry, tobacco, coffee and forest floor all showing their essence. Full bodied, round, plush and really starting to soften, the finish is fresh, clean, smooth and delivers a sweet, dark cherry note that sticks with you. Close to fully mature, this bottle was popped and poured and probably enjoyed far too quickly. But isn’t that one of the signatures of all the really great wines? The wine was produced from a blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon , 25% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot."

FALSTAFF: "Kräftiges Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, dezente Randaufhellung. Feines dunkles Beerenkonfit, Brombeeren, etwas Lakritze, tabakige Nuancen, schwarze Kirschen, animalischer Touch. Saftig, elegant, feine Kirschenfrucht, angenehme, integrierte Tannine, gute Länge, sehr gut angereift."

JANCIS ROBINSON: "Deep crimson. Not much nose; still quite youthful. Big mouthful of round, supple fruit and some gunpowder undertow. Attractive balance and a quite meaty still. I don’t think this would disappoint any claret lover."

WINE SPECTATOR: "Blackberry, mineral and citrus fruit aromas. Full-bodied, with slightly angular tannins, but fruity, with a pleasant tobacco undertone on the finish. Just coming around.--'95/'96 Bordeaux retrospective. Best after 2007."