Château Léoville Poyferré - Saint-Julien 2018 4df5d4d9d819b397555d03cedf085f48

Jamessuckling.com

97 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe1/12/2021

Dark cherry, plum, spice and cacao with earthy notes and wood undertones. Cloves, too. Full-bodied, yet in control and poised. Balanced, complex and flavorful. Firm tannins and a long, precise finish. It goes on and on. Structured is the word. Try after 2025.

Decanter.com

96 / 100

byJane Ansonthe1/12/2021

Vinous

92-94 / 100

byNeal Martinthe11/15/2019

The 2018 Léoville Poyferré was picked from 24 September with the Merlot, the Cabernet Sauvignon following six days later and finishing on 12 October. It has a deep purple colour. The bouquet is sensual and voluptuous with black plum, cassis and blueberry, very floral with violet and pressed iris aromas, typically quite outgoing in style. [A second bottle displays more dark chocolate aromas.] The palate is medium-bodied with saturated tannins and a fine bead of acidity. There is a plushness to this Poyferré that belies good backbone underneath and a saline, truffle tinged finish that lingers in the mouth. It just feels a little blunt at the moment but it should flesh out with time.

WeinWisser

18 / 20

the5/7/2019

Vinous

94-97 / 100

byAntonio Gallonithe5/3/2019

The 2018 Léoville-Poyferré is a stunning wine that shows a very distinct shift in style under the leadership of Sara Lecompte Cuvelier towards greater energy and vibrancy. The 2018 soars out of the glass with stunning aromatic presence. In its latest incarnation, Léoville-Poyferré is marked by a distinct emphasis on freshness and less extraction than in the past, with sweeter, riper tannins than is the norm. It will be interesting to see if that is an expression of the vintage, or a move toward a gentler approach to winemaking, but I suspect much of it is the latter. Dark red cherry, menthol, pine and wild flowers abound in a stunning, vibrant Saint-Julien that will leave readers weak at the knees. Tasted three times.

Jeb DUNNUCK

96-99 / 100

byJeb Dunnuckthe5/1/2019

One of the gems in the vintage will be the 2018 Château Léoville Poyferré, which is a powerful, incredibly sexy wine based on 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and the balance Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, representing just 45% of the total production. In the same ballpark as the 2000, 2005, 2009, and 2010, its deep purple color is followed by a rich, opulent bouquet of sweet black and blue fruits, tobacco, and graphite. Both intellectually and hedonistically satisfying, it fills the mouth with fruit, has remarkable purity and precision for such a powerful wine, sweet tannins, and a finish that goes on for nearly a minute. It's similar in character to the 2009 and will keep for three decades or more. This wine checks in at 14.4% alcohol, with a pH of 3.7, and a massive (one of the highest in the vintage) IPT value of 90. Tasted twice.

Vinifera

93-95 /

byJacques Perrinthe5/1/2019

Nez de grande opulence, noir, épicé et grillé. De la sucrosité de barrique en bouche, fruité mûr et très sexy, avec une forme de maturité rare dans les tanins, beaucoup vont l'adorer.   

Decanter.com

97 / 100

byJane Ansonthe4/25/2019

Deep, silky, and satiny in texture, you can practically stroke this in the glass! The round mouthfeel tells of ripe fruit and generous alcohol but there's not a trace of heat, and the balance is gorgeous. Tannins match you step for step, stopping for breath in all the right places. They keep the luscious black cherry, liquorice and dark chocolate all in place. 
The 2016 vintage was almost one degree less in alcohol, and certainly this is a little less architectural in its construction, but that extra percent has clearly gone a long way to covering the tannins in silk. 3.7pH. IPT90. Tasted several times.Drinking Window 2028 - 2042

La Revue du Vin de France

18-18,5 / 20

the4/24/2019

The Wine Cellar Insider

97-99 / 100

byJeff Levethe4/23/2019

Before the licorice, black cherry, blackberry, smoke, spice box, espresso and cocoa-filled aromas kick in you were already knocked out by the depth of color in the glass. Velvet drenched black fruits seduce your palate. The wine is sensuous, sexy and mouth-filling. Generous with its fruit, this is a finish you don't want to end. All those layers of ripe, decadent dark berries maintain a presence for close to 60 seconds. If you are a fan of Leoville Poyferre, this needs to be in your cellar. If you are not yet a fan and this style is your thing, one taste is all you need to get hooked! Blending 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 32% Petit Verdot, this wine reached 14.4 alcohol. The harvest took place from September 24 to October 12

Wine Advocate

94-96 / 100

byLisa Perrotti-Brownthe4/23/2019

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.

Wine Enthusiast

94-96 / 100

byRoger Vossthe4/17/2019

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.

Jamessuckling.com

97-98 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe4/12/2019

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.

Jean-Marc QUARIN

97 / 100

byJean-Marc Quarinthe4/8/2019

Wine Spectator

95-98 / 100

byJames Molesworththe4/3/2019

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.

Yvesbeck.wine

96-98 / 100

byYves Beckthe4/1/2019

64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot
Beaucoup de travail dans le détail cette année. Une sorte de mix entre le 2010 et le 2016. Rendement de 43hl/ha. Superbe couleur dense ! Pourpre aux reflets violets. Quel bouquet… invitant, convaincant, aux nombreuses facettes. Je relève des notes de fèves de cacao, d’iris et de mûres. Touche de bois de réglisse. Au palais, Poyferré est compact, crémeux et présente une très belle structure tannique qui se révèle très lentement. Les tannins sont fins, puissants et en harmonie avec l’acidité qui soutient idéalement l’expression aromatique. Un vin tout en finesse… avec une étonnante puissance et beaucoup d’équilibre au final. 2025-2044