I think the longer I’ve known wine the more I appreciate Bordeaux. What I had conjured in my mind as a snobbish high-priced region of basic blends has slowly revealed itself to be a sanctuary of incredibly diverse and delicious wines. Better yet, these wines age better than perhaps any other dry wines on the planet, making for an exciting journey of opening older bottles and tracking the progression of vintages across time from my cellar.
While there are many Château which deserve your attention and could fill a lifetime of fine drinking, part of the beauty of this region is one’s own odyssey into finding the estates that capture your admiration and consisently dazzle your personal taste. For me Leoville Poyferré is such a wine. Every time I’ve had the pleasure of opening a bottle of this estate I’m awestruck by the purity of fruit and the balance of rich texture with expertly preserved structure. And man can these wines age beautifully. I recently took part in a horizontal tasting of 2009 Bordeaux and the Poyferré was a showstopper showing freshness alongside perfect development at 16 years old. Check out the photo of the line-up below, the Poyferré stood out amongst a field of top quality examples.
This winery used to be part of the once-massive Léoville estate that included names such as Leoville Barton, but was acquired by the Cuvelier family in 1920. The château has undergone significant modernization while preserving its Bordeaux heritage. Under the guidance of Didier Cuvelier, the estate embraced a refined and opulent style, integrating meticulous vineyard management and modern winemaking techniques. With a slightly higher proportion of Merlot in the blend, Léoville Poyferré wines are often more approachable in their youth, offering lush fruit, velvety tannins, and remarkable depth. But as pointed out above, these wines can age exceptionally wine into 15+ years without difficulty. You’re able to get the best of both worlds, a wine which dazzles immediately and lastingly, for me a true hallmark of what a world class wine should be capable of doing.
On our 3-day sale you can enjoy two back-vintage examples of Léoville Poyferré at pricing you’ll rarely find anywhere else with the 5-10% discount. Lock-in a case of these wines and you’ll be paid back 10x over in delicious experiences for the next few decades.
We have 2 fabulous back-vintage offerings from Poyferre, Château Léoville Poyferré, Saint-Julien 2014 750ml Displayed Price: $99, that’s $94.05 at 5% off and $89.10 at 10% off, 36+ bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 95 points “The 2014 Léoville Poyferré is gorgeous. Dark, sumptuous and ample on the palate, it possesses remarkable depth. Dark cherry, plum, smoke, scorched earth, licorice and menthol all flesh out as this radiant, deeply expressive wine shows off its considerable pedigree. The 2014 is going to need time to fully come together, but it is super-impressive. Tasted two times.”
Château Léoville Poyferré, Saint-Julien 2016 750ml Displayed Price: $149, that’s $141.55 at 5% off and $134.10 at 10% off, 36+ bottles in stock now
Decanter 98 points “Relatively closed right now, as are all the St-Juliens, this takes time to open in the glass but does so to reveal lots of northern Médoc character in the liquorice and brambly fruit puree, with touches of caramel and sweet cassis. It’s hewn out of slate boulders with layers of tannin – a lovely construction that’s deepened even further during ageing. 2% Cabernet Franc finishes the blend. Matured in 80% new oak. Michel Rolland consults. Drinking Window 2024 – 2040.”
Wine Spectator 95-98 points “The deep well of gorgeous cassis, blueberry paste and blackberry puree flavors will carry this for the long haul. Shows a terrific graphite underpinning and a flash of cold charcoal. This is a big one.”
Wine Advocate 97+ points “Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Léoville Poyferré hits the ground running with intense cassis, violets, dark chocolate, menthol and fragrant earth notions complemented by nuances of cigar box and smoked meats. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is charged with energetic, super intense black fruit and floral layers, beautifully supported with super firm, ripe, grainy tannins and seamless freshness. This liquid is simply alive in the mouth, culminating in an epically long finish that will leave your mouth practically tingling. WOW! (LPB).”
Vinous 97 points “The 2016 Léoville-Poyferré is fabulous. Rich, ample and dramatic in bearing, the 2016 possesses striking intensity and vertical lift. The tannins certainly need at least a few years in bottle to soften, but there is so much to look forward to. Graphite, menthol, lavender and licorice complement the inky blue/purplish fruit beautifully. The bottled wine has a bit more Cabernet Sauvignon and less Merlot than the en primeur sample.”
