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

Decanter.com – 96 pts – GH: *Supple and generous with mouthwatering acidity, though really quite tannic at this point which does cover up some of the nuance. I like the texture, the frame and the weight, it's clean, polished and well worked, not overdone at all, but this has a sense of potent seduction in the flavours, rich blackcurrant, perfumed and scented. Detailed with lots of stony, slate, and wet stone elements giving a wonderful terroir influence. It's not as immediately charming as the 2019, the tension still prominent, but this will be brilliant in 5-10 years.* - 01/2023

Falstaff Magazin – 96 pts – PM: *Dunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, opaker Kern, zarte Randaufhellung. Brombeerkonfit, reife Pflaumen, etwas Nugat, Orangenschalen, einladendes Bukett, feine tabakige Nuancen. Komplex, dunkle Beerenfrucht, präsente, noch etwas fordernde Tannine, dunkle Schokolade im Abgang, zart blättrig, wird von Flaschenreife profitieren. (2028–2065).* - 02/2023

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 – 17,5/20 pts: *Noch ausbaugeprägt; extraktreich, seinem Stil entsprechend, mit herbem Tannin, doch stimmig und hervorragend gemacht.* - 07/2023

WeinWisser – 19/20pts – GL, TW: *Dicht verwobenes Bouquet, dunkles Edelholz, Schokotrüffel, Graphit und edle Cassiswürze. Am sublimen Gaumen mit seidiger Textur, kakaoartigem Tanningerüst, balancierter Rasse und durchtrainiertem definierten Körper. Im konzentrierten Finale Wildkirsche, Brasiltabak und erhabene Adstringenz. WOW!* – 03/2023

Jancisrobinson.com - 17,5+/20 pts - JH: *64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot. Very dark colour with black core. Lightly floral (violets), such pure black fruit. Big, chewy but smoothed tannins. Just enough freshness, masses of fruit well-framed by those big tannins. Long, firm, compact.* - 11/2022

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 – 97 pts – AG: *The 2020 Léoville-Poyferré is every bit as impressive as it was from barrel. If anything, it has gained in freshness and vibrancy with élevage. Dark cherry, plum, mocha, graphite and a kiss of French oak are some of the many notes that infuse the 2020 with tons of character. I especially admire its vertical energy and buttoned up personality. In some recent vintages Léoville-Poyferré has been quite showy, but the 2020 also has a more nuanced side that is hugely appealing.* - 12/2022

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 – 96 pts – NM: *The 2020 Léoville Poyferré was bottled in June. It has a very intense nose, displaying more black fruit than its showing from barrel, also the opulence tempered since its bottling. Fine /mineralité/, hints of clove and bay leaf develop with time in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with a smooth opening, still slightly lactic in style as I remarked from barrel, yet with immense depth and plenty of finesse. The structure really comes through on the finish, a pinch of cracked black pepper and tobacco lending complexity. This is a great Léoville Poyferré that will give more than four decades of enjoyment, though I advise waiting several years before broaching.* - 12/2022

Thewinecellarinsider.com – 97 pts – JL: *Even better in the beautiful, black and gold bottle celebrating 100 years of ownership, than it was from the barrel, the wine instantly grabs your attention with its dark color and its equally dark-fruited profile centered on its core of blackberries, black cherries, black plums, spices, espresso, and dark chocolate. The wine is deep, rich, concentrated, and lush, as well as fresh, silky, vibrant, long, and focused. The finish leaves you with layers of sweet, ripe, black and blue fruit, chocolate, espresso, and a touch of spice that comes in at the end of the silky finish. The wine blends 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. Drink from 2026-2055.* - 03/2023