2020 Chateau Leoville-Poyferre - 2eme Cru Classe St. Julien

JA - 05/21 - 96pts: *Rich and concentrated with violet reflections and a wall of tannins. Well structured, it sets its feet deep in the ground and will need time to soften and develop. Good quality with depth. The tannins are far more present than the alcohol, setting it apart from the 2018. A yield of 35hl/ha. Harvest september 14 to 30. Planted blend (not 2020) 61% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, 8% Petit Verdot and 4% Cabernet Franc.*

Falstaff Magazin – (95 – 97) pts - PM: *Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, opaker Kern, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Zart tabakig-kräuterwürzig unterlegtes schwarzes Beerenkonfit nach Cassis und Brombeeren, etwas Kardamom, Edelholznuancen. Komplex, engmaschig, reife Kirschen, feiner Nougat, samtige, reife Tannine, mineralischer Anklang im Abgang, bleibt sehr gut haften, wirkt kraftvoll und harmonisch, gutes Entwicklungspotenzial.* - 05/2021

LPB - 05/21 - 95-97pts: *Deep purple-black colored, the 2020 Léoville Poyferré comes bounding out of the glass like an energetic young pup, delivering exuberant scents of crushed black cherries, juicy blackberries and warm cassis, with hints of ground cloves, dark chocolate, lilacs and tilled soil. The medium to full-bodied palate is wonderfully plush, delivering bags of ripe black fruits with a seamless backbone of acidity, finishing long and spicy.*

Vinum Magazin – 17,5/20pts: *Zurückhaltende, ausbaugeprägte Aromatik; wuchtiger Ansatz, hoher, aber gemeisterter Extrakt, erstklassiges Tannin, dessen Präsenz gut das spürbare Feuer ausbalanciert; tadellos, dem Jahrgang entsprechend, sich selber treu.* - 09/2021

WeinWisser – 19/20pts - WL: *64 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 31 % Merlot, 3 % Cabernet Franc, 2 % Petit Verdot, Alkohol 13.7 vol%., pH 3.79, 35 hl/ha. Tiefes Purpur mit schwarzer Mitte und zartem lila Rand. Dicht verwobenes Bouquet mit Wildkirsche, edler Cassiswürze und dunkler Mineralik. Im zweiten Ansatz zartes Veilchenparfüm, Schlehensaft und Flieder. Am gigantischen Gaumen mit seidiger Textur, feinkörniges Extrakt, perfekt balancierte Rasse und sehr dichter und muskulöser Körper. Im katapultartigen Finale schlägt der Champion dann zu und endet mit einer Ladung schwarzer Johannisbeeren und tiefschürfender Terroirwürze sowie salziger Adstringenz. Besticht dieses Jahr mit einer unglaublichen Präzision und Raffinesse. Die eiserne Faust im Samthandschuh – Chapeau Sara! Es wird heuer ein Jubiläumsetikett geben! Für mich besser als 2019 & 2018!* – 04/2021

Jancisrobinson.com - 17,5pts - JR: *Dark crimson. Relatively voluptuous nose. Flattering initially but then with quite a charge of inky tannins underneath. Needs time. Notably dry on the finish but with good density. Rather more obviously dry and less flashy than some vintages. Very much made for the long term with a juicy, spicy undertow. Extremely youthful. Unusually, it seems drier than Léoville Barton.* - 04/21

JMQ - 04/21 - 18pts: *Couleur noire, aux reflets pourpres. Nez intense, fin, au fruité pur, mûr et légèrement vanillé. Nuances de cerise et de framboise à l'agitation. Complexe. Moelleux et velouté en entrée de bouche, parfumé et fondant au milieu, riche en saveurs, le vin évolue dense et complexe, sur une longue finale sèveuse, avec un poil de bois pour l'instant. Cependant, ce qui reste après l'avoir craché est d'une belle noblesse.*

JamesSuckling.com - 96-97pts - JS: *Impressive purity of fruit on the nose with crushed raspberries, blackcurrants and blackberries. Some lead pencil, too. It's full-bodied with very polished, intense tannins that go on for minutes.The quality and precision of the tannins are impressive, giving the wine form, energy and equilibrium.*- 04/2021

Vinous.com - 95-97pts - AG: *The 2020 Léoville-Poyferré is a powerful, structured wine. In recent vintages, Léoville-Poyferré has been more opulent, but the 2020 shows off a towering, vertical build framed by a soaring spine of tannin. Dark red cherry, pomegranate, cedar and spicebox emerge with a bit of coaxing. Ultimately, though, Léoville-Poyferré is less showy than most Saint-Juliens at this stage. I don't expect that will be much of an issue in time. In a word: magnificent. Tasted three times.* - 06/2021

RV - 06/21 - 96-98pts: *Barrel Sample. Rich, luscious and replete with dark plum and dark chocolate flavors, this wine shows great power as well as aging potential. Its richness is balanced by the fresher edge of acidity that stands the wine in good stead as it ages.*

Vinous.com – (95-97) pts – NM: *The 2020 Léoville Poyferré builds on the success of recent vintages, offering intense yet exquisitely defined black cherries, wild strawberry, cassis and crushed stone aromas. It is high-toned as usual but not quite as hedonistic as the recently tasted 2018. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins that belie the backbone of this Saint-Julien. Slightly lactic in texture toward the spicy finish; the oak will be assimilated by the time of bottling, leaving a very suave and sophisticated wine that will give 30-40 years of drinking pleasure. Easily one of the classiest offerings from this Saint-Julien in recent years.* - 05/2021

JL - 05/21 - 97pts: *Silky, polished, lusciously textured and rich, the wine pops from the glass with incense, smoked berries, cherry blossoms, creme de cassis, tobacco leaf and blue fruit. Full-bodied, silky and opulently textured, this concentrated wine offers layers of deep, ripe fruits that simultaneously coat your palate, yet feel fresh and vibrant. The flamboyant, seamless finish builds in intensity as it expands on your palate.*