Castle Léoville Poyferré - Saint-Julien 2005

Wine Advocate

93 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe6/30/2015

Léoville Poyferré’s dense ruby/purple 2005 is soft, round and juicy, with lots of blackcurrant fruit, plum and Asian spice. It is medium to full-bodied and, along with Léoville Las Cases and Saint-Pierre, probably one of the best St.-Juliens I tasted in this retrospective. It is surprisingly supple and accessible. Drink it over the next 15 or so years.

Jancis Robinson

17,5 / 20

byJancis Robinsonthe2/9/2015

Purplish crimson. Scented and beguiling. Far from a heavyweight and with lots of tannin but with some lift too. Super clean. Well judged! 

La Revue du Vin de France

18 / 20

the10/20/2014

Il affiche une grande race et beaucoup de sève, avec de la jeunesse et du peps. Le fruit est éclatant, la texture fine et l'ensemble possède beaucoup d'allonge ainsi qu'une finale savoureuse, évoluant vers des notes de fruits rouges.

Wine Advocate

95 / 100

byNeal Martinthe6/13/2009

Tasted single blind at Southwold. Again, the nose has shut down like the previous wine. Blackberry, cedar, a touch of animal fur – this should be so incredibly complex in a few years time. The palate is full-bodied with firm tannins, very well balanced and supple. Nice elegant, smooth vivacious blackberry and cedar finish. Its sensuality belies the turbo-charged engine at the heart of this wine. Great length. Superb. Drink 2018-2040. Tasted January 2009.

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

93 / 100

byStephen Tanzerthe6/30/2008

Saturated ruby-red. Deeply pitched aromas of black cherry, currant and coffee. Sweet, silky and full, but with lovely ripe acidity to frame the dense black fruit, mocha and mineral flavors. Showing a glossy aspect to its fruit that is exhilarating, even if this deep, fairly tannic wine is a bit sullen at present, despite showing excellent back-end breadth. This is a full 13.5% alcohol; the petit verdot component reached 14.5% potential alcohol in 2005, said Cuvelier, who describes 2005 as "a year of sun but not surmaturite.

Wine Advocate

93 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe5/7/2008

Although I still prefer the 2003, the 2005 Leoville Poyferre is a gorgeously opulent, approachable wine that is far less massive and austere than its two siblings. The most seductive, approachable, and charming of the three Leovilles, it exhibits a dense purple color as well as a sweet bouquet of mocha, black chocolate, creme de cassis, licorice, and toasty oak. Full-bodied with gorgeous upfront fruit in addition to impressive levels of melted, well-integrated tannin, it should be at its finest between 2015-2035.

Wine Advocate

95 / 100

byNeal Martinthe4/29/2008

A deep black/garnet hue with bright youthful rim. The nose is far less extrovert than the 2003 but probably has superior focus and delineation, more sense of minerality that infuses that incredibly pure blackberries and blueberries. The palate has brilliant balance, again bewitching purity with filigree tannins that belie their structure and the sheer density of the wine. Lacquers the mouth on the finish, maintains its sense of poise and tension with hints of chocolate and coca on the finish. Stunning. Drink 2020-2040+ Tasted March 2008.

Wine Spectator

92 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe2/22/2008

Jancis Robinson

17.50 / 20

byJancis Robinsonthe11/21/2007

Mid crimson and very alluring blend of spicy ripeness with St-Julien rigour. Wel done! Quite subtle but with Rolland super-smooth texture. This should win many friends. Not quite classic - espacially cf Léoville Barton - but very friendly. Only medium length but this seems much more assured than en primeur.

La Revue du Vin de France

18.50 / 20

the9/3/2007

Wine Advocate

92-95 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe5/4/2007

While perhaps not up to the standards of the extraordinary 2003, the 2005 is still a strong effort from an estate that has been doing everything right over the last two decades. Sweet toasty oak intermixed with jammy black currant, plum, and licorice aromas jump from the glass of this dense purple-hued wine. In the mouth, there is great fruit, tannin, body, structure, and delineation. This impressively endowed, well made St.-Julien will require considerable patience (as will most 2005 northern Medocs). Anticipated maturity: 2015-2030+.

Wine Advocate

92-94 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe4/27/2006

As superb as Leoville Poyferre’s 2005 is, it does not appear to be as profound as their 2003, but I may be proven wrong once the wine is bottled. Flowery creme de cassis aromas interwoven with hints of blackberries, licorice, and pain grille jump from the glass of this opaque purple-colored St.-Julien. Possessing medium to full body, sweet tannin, an expansive, multilayered mid-palate, good acidity and freshness, and a blockbuster finish, this powerful, impressively endowed effort will require patience. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2030+.

Wine Spectator

95-100 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe3/28/2006

Loads of blackberry, licorice and toasted oak on the nose. Full-bodied, with lots of focused and clean ripe fruit character. Balanced and refined. Another 2003? Maybe even better? —J.S.