Chateau Leoville Poyferre 2nd Grand Cru Classé 2022
Country: France Region: Bordeaux (St. Julien)
Varietal: 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, 4% Petit Verdot
Vintage: 2022 Colour: Red Style: Dry
Producer: Chateau Léoville Poyferré
Description:
An icon of balance and tradition, St. Julien boasts the highest proportion of classed growths in the Médoc. St. Julien wines are for those wanting subtlety, balance and consistency in their Bordeaux. Rewarding and persistent, the best among these Bordeaux Blends are full of blueberry, blackberry, cassis, plum, tobacco and liquorice. They are intense and complex and finish with fine, velvety tannins.
Léoville Poyferré has been owned by the Cuvelier family (who also own Château Le Crock) since 1921, yet it was not until the 1970s, when Didier Cuvelier took control at the château, that quality began to improve. In the last 20 years, Didier, with the assistance of Michel Rolland since 1995, has turned Léoville Poyferré into one of St-Julien's finest estates.
100/100 Points - Jeb Dunnuck
Reminding me of the 2018 (as well as the 2009), if not slightly more concentrated, the 2022 Château Léoville Poyferré is one of the most opulent and flamboyant wines out of the Médoc in 2022, and it has incredible intensity while staying light on its feet and graceful. Its dense, glass-staining purple hue is followed by a sensational perfume of crème de cassis, graphite, darker chocolate, scorched earth, and flowers. Full-bodied on the palate, it brings extravagant levels of fruit as well as a seamless mouthfeel, beautifully integrated oak, tannins, and acidity, no hard edges, and a gorgeous finish. It shines even today, yet it has beautiful underlying structure and will evolve gracefully over the coming 30+ years.
99/100 Points - James SucklingA mind-blowing Leoville Poyferré, probably one of the best for a long time. Huge depth and structure, showing a deep matrix of fruit full of fresh blackberries and a dash of ink and lead pencil. Such verticality on the full-bodied palate with beautiful balance and a clear finish that goes on and on for more than a minute. Great potential ahead. This was tasted at the UCGB tasting and was one of the best wines of the day. Drink after 2028. It should improve in the next 10 to 15 years.
98/100 Points - Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar InsiderThe explosive nose with its show display of flowers, espresso, licorice, black cherries, spice, and tobacco grabs your attention. But, the palate is where the seals the deal with its non-stop display of luscious, silky-textured, black with red fruits that coat your taste-receptors with pure, deep, black with red berries. The sensuous endnotes hit all the right notes from start to finish.
96+/100 Points - Neal Martin, Vinous MediaThe 2022 Léoville-Poyferré showed a lot of potential from barrel and it does so now in bottle. Interestingly, it bursts out of the blocks aromatically for a minute then settles down, gaining delineation and refinement. It is less full-throttle than other vintages and neatly hides the 14.24% alcohol. The palate is medium-bodied with a velvety-smooth entry. There is such purity here, with fine-boned tannins and nicely judged acidity, all harmonious with a peacock’s tail on the finish. Controlled from start to finish, if you are a fan of “LP,” you’re gonna love the 2022.
