2011 Leoville Poyferre
Buying options
Tasting notes
One of the later harvested wines with the final Cabernets coming in at the beginning of October. The final blend is 58% Cab Sauv, 30% Merlot and 6% each of Cab Franc and Petit Verdot with a restrained (at least versus that last two vintages of Poyferre) alcohol level of 13.7%. It has a sweet, gently woody nose which with air releases violets and other lifted aromatics. It is deeply concentrated and with a formidable tannin index of 94 (this is approaching press wine levels!) however there is also wonderful purity to this year's Poyferre and its mid-palate is a riot of sticky fruit. It's modern of course but really of very fine quality. FINE+RARE
Critic scores
Average Score
James Suckling
FINE+RARE
More reviews and scores
Light nose, but it has all the typicality of the appellation: cassis, cedar, tobacco, graphite. The acid is fresh, maybe a little more zingy than would be ideal, and the finish isn't very long, but the flavour is all intact. (RH)
The 2011 Léoville-Poyferré is a wine that I tasted from barrel but rarely in bottle. It does not quite live up to my expectations. It is now missing a bit of vigour on the nose, conservative and missing some joie-de-vivre . The palate is medium-bodied with light tannins. Pretty red fruit are laced with sea salt and a pinch of spice, but it fades towards the finish. How much more does the 2011 have in the tank? Tasted at the Léoville-Poyferré vertical at the château with Sara Lecompte Cuvelier.
The 2011 Léoville Poyferré has a ripe bouquet with blackberry, boysenberry, graphite and pressed flower scents. Quite open and more fruit-driven than its peers. The palate is medium-bodied with gentle grip, quite fine tannins and satisfying weight. Touches of black pepper and cedar line the finish, though here, it just misses a bit of tension and Poyferré's trademark amplitude. Tasted blind at the annual 10-Year-On tasting.
About the producer
Ch. Léoville-Poyferré is a Second Growth Saint-Julien property that was once part of the same estate as Ch. Léoville Barton and Ch. Léoville Las Cases. It has the most complex and varied soils of the three and produces the most voluptuous, seductive style of wine.