2012 Leoville Poyferre
Buying options
Tasting notes
62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot. Ripe black fruit and slatey minerality on the nose. Very clean on the palate with a lot of substance. This is not light in any sense and has masses of fine tannin but it is more approachable than the monoliths that were 2009 and 2010. Lovely freshness and grip on the finish. Very good. FINE+RARE
Critic scores
Average Score
James Suckling
FINE+RARE
More reviews and scores
The 2012 Léoville-Poyferré offers much more fruit concentration on the nose compared to the previous vintage with brambly red fruit, thyme, cedar and tobacco. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, quite a fleshy LP with lower acidity than I expected. But there is ample weight with lovely lightly spiced red fruit laced with brown spices and a touch of mint on the finish. Very fine. Tasted at the Léoville-Poyferré vertical at the château with Sara Lecompte Cuvelier.
Poyferré keeps its generous spirit at 10 years old and has a lovely rich body with raspberry coulis, blackberry and density through the mid palate. The oak majors on grilled cedar and almond, a little dominant and closes things down on the close of play, not quite smoothed out yet suggesting that although you can begin drinking now, it will benefit from another few years in bottle. Harvest October 8 to 19. 80% new oak.
Tasted blind. Very deep crimson. Intense nose and very smooth texture. Quite a standout! Lots going on there and a really exciting finish. GV (JR)
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.