2018 Chateau Leoville-Poyferre - 2eme Cru Classe St. Julien

Decanter.com – 96 pts – GH: *Gorgeously rich, heady and seductive nose, really expressive - you can sense the concentration in the rich blackcurrant aromas, soft hints of bramble bush, perfume and super soft spicing. Exuberant but with such clarity on the palate - clear power there, richly juicy and mouth filling - tannins are present but soft, they have texture and do grip the tongue but the overall feel is so well balanced and textured. Lovely weight in the mouth with cherry and blackcurrant flavours, some menthol, liquorice tones giving freshness and a cooling touch as well as a soft minerality that comes across as wet stone nuance on the tongue. A gentle spice also runs through the wine, grilled cedar and cinnamon but it also has such a lively juicy quality with tension and concentration. Incredible. Give this at least 10 years before enjoying. 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot. Harvest 20 September-12 October.* - 03/2022

Falstaff Magazin – 95 pts - PM: *Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Feine Nuancen von Brombeeren und Lakritze, ein Hauch von Cassis, feine Edelholzwürze, zart nach kandierten Orangenzesten. Saftig, gute Komplexität und Frische, feine, gut integrierte Tannine, zitronig unterlegte Herzkische, finessenreich und elegant, rotbeeriger Touch, gutes Reifepotenzial.* - 04/2019
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Falstaff Magazin – 96 pts - PM: *Sehr dunkles Rubingranat, opaker Kern, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Feiner Nougattouch, dunkles Waldbeerkonfit unterlegt, süße Gewürze, kandierte Orangenzesten. Saftig, elegant, reife Herzkirschen, gut integrierte Tannine, ein Hauch von Schokolade im Abgang, frisch struktutiert, zeigt Länge und Harmonie, sicheres Entwicklungspotenzial. (2025-2050)* - 02/2021

*Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2018 Léoville Poyferré begins sporting a veil of cedar, opening out to reveal profound notions of crème de cassis, warm kirsch, Black Forest cake and Indian spices plus hints of chargrilled meats and Sichuan pepper. Full-bodied and built like a brick house, the taut, muscular black fruit has a solid frame of firm, ripe tannins and seamless freshness, finishing long with loads of savory nuances. Aging is anticipated to be for 18 months in barriques, 80% new. The current blend is 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot and 3% Cabernet Franc.* (94-96+/100)

Vinum Magazin – 17/20pts: *Die Tannin besitzen besonderen Schliff, die Fülle ist gut gemeistert, das Finale feurig und lang auf Noten von eingemachten Früchten: tadellos gearbeitet, das beste aus dem Jahr gemacht.* - 09/2021

WeinWisser – 18,5/20pts - WL: *Das dunkelste Purpur des Tages mit schwarzer Mitte. Sehr konzentriertes schwarzbeeriges Bouquet mit Holunder und Schlehensaft, dahinter Schokopastillen und schwarze Johannisbeeren. Am mächtigen Gaumen mit seidiger Textur, fleischigem Extrakt, kakaoartigem Tanninkorsett und einem perfekt geformtem «Sixpack». Im gebündelten nicht enden wollenden Finale ein Feuerwerk von kleinen schwarzen Beeren, tiefschürfender Terroirwürze und Bleistiftmine im Rückaroma. Dieser Muskelprotz braucht Geduld. Hat sein Potential bereits als Fassmuster angedeutet, folgerichtig geht es einen halben Punkt nach oben!* – 04/2021

*This is brimming with plum, blackberry and blueberry reduction flavors, backed by grippy, energetic bramble, licorice and apple wood notes. Chockablock with stuff but defined and balanced. A no-brainer for the cellar.—J.M.* (95-98/100)

JancisRobinson.com – 19/20pts – JR: *Tasted blind. A popular wine with the group! Very pleasingly rich but within a (very obvious) tannic framework. Very youthful. Yet very rich. This is glorious! Very, very long.* - 01/2022

*This is so powerful and dense with amazing tannin quality that reminds me of dense clouds, because they are agile and light. Multilayered. Extremely long, too. Punchy! One of the best wines I have ever had from here.* (97-98/100)

Vinous.com – 97 pts – AG: *Léoville-Poyferré is sensational in 2018. There's not much more to say than that. A wine of explosive power and intensity, the 2018 dazzles from start to finish. To be sure, the 2018 is racy and opulent, but all the elements come together so effortlessly. Bright red-toned fruit, mocha, pine and wild flowers all open with a bit of coaxing. The new oak is a bit prominent at this stage, but that will be less of an issue over time.* - 03/2021

*Velvet tannins support beautifully ripe black fruits, giving a wine that is structured yet also generous in nature. The wine is likely to age for many years with its deceptively massive tannic structure and lasting acidity.* (94-96/100)

Vinous.com – 95 pts – NM: *The 2018 Léoville Poyferré has a glorious bouquet of layers of black cherry, blueberry, violet and potpourri that is opulent yet (paradoxically) effortlessly controlled. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins. Some of the puppy fat that enveloped this wine from barrel has gone, revealing more backbone and an impressive sense of cohesion and symmetry on the finish. This is an outstanding Léoville Poyferré that has gained another level of complexity since I tasted it from barrel.* - 03/2021