Professional reviews
Robert Parker (94)
93 - 95: Aromas of cassis, plums, pencil shavings and toasty new oak introduce the 2023 Léoville Poyferré, a medium to full-bodied, rich and chunky wine with a deep core of succulent fruit framed by sweet, generously extracted tannins. It's a blend of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot that saw some saignée and osmosis for additional concentration. As usual, it's the creamiest, most "modern"-styled of the three Léovilles. Harvest began on September 14 and concluded on October 5, with fermentations a little cooler than usual, perhaps an intimation of a stylistic evolution in progress.
James Suckling (97)
A very solid and intense wine with plenty of pure blackberry, blueberry and chocolate character but still subtle and sophisticated. It's full-bodied, very structured, chewy and caressing, with pretty tannins and a long finish. Needs four or five years to soften.
Jancis Robinson (17)
Full bottle 1,354 g. 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot.
Very dark with black core and narrow purple rim. Such pure, intense and fragrant Cabernet cassis aroma. With all the stony-mineral quality I expect from the best St-Estèphe. Deep, rich and so fresh! The tannins are beautifully shaped: definite, smooth and just right for the fruit. Lovely young wine with a long life ahead but you don’t need to wait too long to open it and enjoy it in relative youth. Both elegant and delicious. (JH)
Vinous (97)
The 2023 Léoville-Poyferré is every bit as compelling as it was en primeur. Silky and aromatic, with gorgeous mid-weight balance, the 2023 impresses with class and understated finesse. Black cherry, lavender, menthol, spice, new leather and licorice are all woven together effortlessly. I especially admire the wine's vibrancy and energy, qualities that build effortlessly into a pristine finish that is impossible to forget.
Jeb Dunnuck (97)
Heavenly stuff, the 2023 Château Léoville Poyferré checks in as 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot that spent 18-20 months in 80% new French oak. It brings more sexiness and richness than most in the vintage, yet it isn't over the top and plays in the more classic, elegant style of the vintage. Crème de cassis, spring flowers, violets, graphite, and spicy wood all show on the nose, and it's medium to full-bodied, with a pure, graceful, and layered mouthfeel, beautiful tannins, and a great finish. I love its purity, and this is just loaded with charm. While it's already hard to resist, it should evolve gracefully on its balance, purity, and elegance.
