Château Léoville Poyferré - Saint-Julien 2017 b5952cb1c3ab96cb3c8c63cfb3dccaca

Wine Advocate

94 / 100

byLisa Perrotti-Brownthe3/17/2020

Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, the 2017 Léoville Poyferré needs a little coaxing to reveal pretty scents of violets, Black Forest cake and blueberry preserves with hints of raspberry leaves, roses, cigar box and fragrant earth. Medium-bodied, the palate has a quiet intensity with loads of subtle layers and a well-poised frame of soft, fine-grained tannins, finishing long and refreshing. Drinking Window : 2022 - 2045. 94+

Vinous

97 / 100

byAntonio Gallonithe3/11/2020

A ravishing Saint-Julien, the Léoville-Poyferré is also very clearly one of the wines of the vintage on the Left Bank. Raspberry jam, blood orange, mint, spice and mocha all race out of the glass as this sumptuous, flamboyant wine shows off its exotic personality. With its vertical lift and explosive energy, the 2017 has so much to offer. It has been nothing less than stunning on the three occasions I have tasted it so far. In 2017, the Grand Vin is 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. Because of the late season rains, only 3 out of the 5 parcels that typically inform the Grand Vin were used. This a tremendous effort from the Cuvelier family. Don't miss it.

Wine Spectator

93 / 100

byJames Molesworththe2/7/2020

Warm and rich in feel, with layers of steeped plum, fig and blackberry paste flavors cruising along, framed by cocoa notes and backed by a swath of graphite structure on the tar-tinged finish. Shows a bit more heft than purity, but this is rock-solid nonetheless. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Best from 2023 through 2037. — JM

Jamessuckling.com

94 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe1/13/2020

A red with currant and blueberry aromas and flavors and some citrus and vanilla. Medium body and creamy, integrated tannins. Shows finesse and depth for the vintage. One of the best from the appellation. Drinkable now, but much better in 2022.

Le Point

16,5-17 / 20

byJacques Dupontthe6/20/2018

Fruits rouges, cerise, juteux, profond, bon milieu de bouche dense, charnu, tanins fins, finale harmonieuse, fraîche.

Jeb DUNNUCK

93-95 / 100

byJeb Dunnuckthe6/12/2018

hâteau Léoville-Poyferré has been on a roll for over a decade now, and they’ve produced a terrific, fruit-forward, pleasure-bent 2017 that readers should snatch up. A blend of 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, it was harvested between September 20th and October 6th, and is aging in 80% new French oak. Awesome crème de cassis, violets, spice box, and crushed rock-like minerality all emerge from this dense, medium to full-bodied, sexy 2017 that has sweet tannin and an expansive, opulent texture. I love the depth of fruit, and where too many wines in the vintage can be straight and a touch charmless, this beauty dishes out tons of pleasure! Don’t miss it.

Vinifera

93 / 100

byJacques Perrinthe5/28/2018

Attaque fraîche et veloutée, portée par un élevage luxueux, vin savoureux et élégant, qui devrait s’ouvrir assez vite. Un Léoville déjà accessible.

Vinous

92-95 / 100

byAntonio Gallonithe5/15/2018

The 2017 Léoville-Poyferré boasts serious depth and concentration within the context of the year. Bright and floral, with beautifully layered fruit, the 2017 is at once gracious and powerful. Raspberry jam, chocolate, new leather and spice all flesh out in this decidedly exuberant, fleshy Saint-Julien. Many 2017s are quite open, but Léoville-Poyferré is quite reticent. Some of that may be attributable to high percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon in a blend composed of 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. Because of the late season rains, only 3 out of the 5 parcels that typically inform the Grand Vin were used. Tasted two times.

The Wine Cellar Insider

96-98 / 100

byJeff Levethe5/11/2018

Before the licorice, black cherry, truffle, and cocoa-filled bouquet seductively arrives, you’ll notice a startling depth of color. Full bodied, rich and flowing with the darkest of red fruits and gently dusted with a blast of even darker chocolate, this wine is wrapped in cashmere. It is graceful and fresh from the very first dance to the long good-bye. Blending 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot, this wine reached 13% alcohol. The harvest took place from September 20 to October 6. This is the final vintage with Didier Cuvelier at the helm and it is a testament to his many accomplishments at Leoville Poyferre.

Vinous

91-93 / 100

byNeal Martinthe5/1/2018

The 2017 Léoville Poyferré was cropped at around 50hl/ha between 20 September and 6 October at 44hl/ha. It has a gorgeous bouquet that is very pure with scents of black cherry, cassis, cedar and a touch of graphite, all very focused and neatly entwined with the 85% new oak. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grain tannin, crisp and focused, very harmonious with a touch of cedar and black pepper towards the finish. I appreciate the combination of weight and finesse here, a really quite enthralling valedictory Léoville Poyferré who is due to retire this coming July. Bonvin.

Wine Advocate

93-95 / 100

byLisa Perrotti-Brownthe4/27/2018

Yields in 2017 were 44.34 hectoliters per hectare. The 2017 Léoville Poyferré is very deep purple-black in color with super intense notes of freshly crushed blackcurrants, wild blueberries and Sichuan pepper with hints of lavender, baking spices and wood smoke. The palate is medium-bodied, firm and grainy with restrained, understated fruit and a long, mineral-laced finish.

Decanter.com

95 / 100

byJane Ansonthe4/25/2018

This has lower alcohol than usual, but doesn't sacrifice the mouthfeel. There's a succulent damson and cappuccino expression through the finish here, along with tautly constructed, bouncy tannins that are both expressive and powerful. It's one of the more rich and round wines in St-Juliens, as fits the house style. Extremely accomplished, it's powerful and will clearly age well. It's somewhere between 2014 and 2015 in quality, but not touching the majestic 2016. A success in the vintage, underlining again that St-Julien has had an extremely lucky 2017.

WeinWisser

18 / 20

byRené Gabrielthe4/25/2018

68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot. 50 hl/ha. 13,2vo1%, pH-Wert: 3,79. Dichtes Granat mit rubinrotem Rand. Komplexes rotbeeri-ges Bouquet mit Cranberry und Himbee-ren. lm zweiten Ansatz Schattenmorellen-saft und heller Tabak. Am mittleren Gau-men mit seidiger Textur und perfekt stützenden Tanninen. Alles ist hier am richtigen Platz. lm gebündelten Finale «ein gigantisches Rückaroma mit Kirschhâuten und schwarzen Pfefferkôrnern. Dieses Jahr perfekt dem Jahrgang angepasst -ein St.-Julien-«Leichtgewicht» mit un-glaublicher Raffinesse. lm Factsheet wird folgender Vergleich angeführt: Charme von 2012, die Eleganz von 2015 und die Kraft von 2014.               
18/20 2025 - 2045

Jean-Marc QUARIN

17,5 / 20

byJean-Marc Quarinthe4/17/2018

Jamessuckling.com

95-96 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe4/6/2018

Very tight and energetic finish to this young, new red with currant and blackberry character. Hints of crushed stones. Dense and four-square with a chewy tannin structure and a long finish. Very muscular. Serious encore to the 2016. Same level?

Wine Spectator

92-95 / 100

byJames Molesworththe4/4/2018

Warm, displaying a slightly rounded feel for the vintage, this sports plum, cassis and blackberry compote flavors. A mouthwatering anise edge shows on the polished finish, with a well-buried graphite spine.—J.M.