Chateau Leoville Poyferre 2021

JAMES SUCKLING: "Excellent depth and complexity with a nice modern touch of cocoa powder to the black olives, pencil shavings, cassis, violets, black mushrooms and dark earth. Full-bodied palate with fresh, vertical tannins and lots of juicy fruit that seamlessly dissolve into the flavorful, persistent finish. Refined power with real length. Drink or hold."

WEINWISSER: "Likörig, offensiv, etwas gereift und wenig frisch, präsentiert er im Geruch einen sehr üppigen Ansatz mit toskanischer Süße. In Zürich notierte ich gar amaronehafte Akzente. Stoffig, süß, offensiv und wenig tiefgründig, präsentiert er sich sehr konzentriert, aber wenig locker, sehr kompakt und auf schiere Kraft ausgerichtet. Druckvolle Gerbstoffe, wenig Schmelz. Ein Rückfall in leichte Überextraktion mit guter Länge und etwas hohler Mitte."

DECANTER: "A rich, ripe toasted nose, clearly concentrated. Good fruit density, underlying power and sense of structure. This has personality, it does feel a tiny bit pushed on the palate with acidity opening the expression but the fruitiness fades quite quickly and is replaced by the tannic structure and menthol, herbal Cabernet aspects. It's smooth with a long length. Nice bones for ageing, so give this a few years."

JEB DUNNUCK: "The Grand Vin 2021 Château Léoville Poyferré from this brilliant estate checks in as 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Petit Verdot. It has a serious, concentrated, inward style as well as impressive red and black currant-like fruit supported by notes of graphite, smoked tobacco, spicy oak, and chocolate. With terrific richness, a layered, concentrated mid-palate, and fine tannins, this is clearly one of the gems in the vintage. It needs to be forgotten for just 4-5 years, and I wouldn't be surprised to see it evolve for over two decades."

FALSTAFF: "Dunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, dezente Ockerrandaufhellung. Zart nach Nugat und dunklen Herzkirschen, zarte Edelholznuancen, reife Zwetschken sind unterlegt. Saftig, elegant, feine Extraktsüße, reife Tannine, gute Frisch, zeigt Länge und Potenzial, feine Gewürznuancen im Abgang, bereits gut antrinkbar."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Licorice, tobacco leaf, chocolate, espresso, black cherries and smoked peppery notes create the perfume. On the palate, the wine is soft, polished, fresh, elegant and fruity with sweetness to the red fruits and a creamy-texture to the finish. The wine blends 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot. Drink from 2026-2055."

LISA PERROTTI-BROWN: "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."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "The 2021 Léoville Poyferré 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."

WINE SPECTATOR: " Dark plum and blackberry fruit is a touch sedate, but has depth and avoids the vintage's grainy feel as it integrates with the solid toast and tobacco notes on the finish, which shows a subtle tug of iron at the very end. Nicely done for the vintage. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2034. 9,279 cases made."