Chateau Leoville Poyferre 2005

DECANTER: "The 2005 vintage was surprisingly strong for Léoville-Poyferré, which I had tied with Mouton-Rothschild for second place just after Haut-Brion. The blend was 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot, and 6% Cabernet Franc. Picking began on 26 September with the Merlot and finished on 8 October. The wine was aged in 75% new casks. The ripe blackcurrant and plum fruit showed some well-integrated notes of cedar, smoke, and earth that remain very youthful. The feel on the palate is substantial but very elegant. The tannins are firm and solid but not astringent. The overall impression is one of well-balanced power, and the finish was subtle and long. Drinking Window 2021 - 2040"

WEINWISSER: "Extrem dichtes Purpur-Granat. Warmes, delikates Bouquet, Amarenakirschen, rote Dörrpflaumen, ein Hauch Feigen und Kakaonoten, Kokos, komplex, fast buttrig und absolut faszinierend. Im Gaumen mit enorm viel Charme und Souplesse, cremig, gerundete Gerbstoffe, fast schon mit burgundischem Charme, bald schon Freude lachend, und das mehr als 20 Jahre lang."

JAMES SUCKLING: "Very clear and translucent with currants, blueberries and fresh mushrooms. Full-bodied with velvety tannins that are layered and beautiful. Together and polished with plushness and beauty. Drink or hold."

JANCIS ROBINSON: "Lots of Cabernet Sauvignon this year and no Cabernet Franc. The most evolved in colour of all the wines so far, not surprisingly, with quite a bit of brick and rather smudgy. Hedonistic mature aromas of forest floor and leather, with sweet spice. Senescent fruit but still so full of gorgeous aromas. Dry tannic finesse, great freshness and still has upright purity as well as great length. Mature but full of life and depth of fruit. Grainy but rounded texture. Big but not brash."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Fresh, vibrant and juicy, with strong notes of tobacco, cedar, smoke, roasted fruits, espresso, thyme and currants. The wine is full-bodied and filled with ripe, crisp red berries, which come with a firm tannic grip that even with all this fruit, demands at least 4-5 more years to finish softening and rounding out. The wine is a blend of 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot and 6% Petit Verdot."

WINE ENTHUSIAST: "Hugely concentrated and packed with tannins, this wine shows considerable amounts of dark, extracted fruit. It wins out on impressive power, driving the fruit through the tannins, giving great richness."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "Léoville Poyferré’s dense ruby/purple 2005 is soft, round and juicy, with lots of blackcurrant fruit, plum and Asian spice. It is medium to full-bodied and, along with Léoville Las Cases and Saint-Pierre, probably one of the best St.-Juliens I tasted in this retrospective. It is surprisingly supple and accessible. Drink it over the next 15 or so years."

WINE SPECTATOR: "Dark ruby red in color, with aromas of currant, blackberry, toasty oak and light cappuccino. Full-bodied, with ultrafine tannins and a beautiful, caressing aftertaste. Touches every part of the palate. Outstanding, but slightly disappointing after such a great showing from barrel."

FALSTAFF: "Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, schwarzer Kern, violette Reflexe, in der Nase eher verhalten, zart nach Weichseln, etwas Kirsche. Am Gaumen sehr frisch, deutlich auf der Cabernet-Seite, delikate Frucht, sehr finessenreich, getragen von einem süßen Tannin, insgesamt etwas schlanker, leichtfüßig und pur, sehr gutes Potenzial."