Château Léoville Poyferré - Saint-Julien 1995 4df5d4d9d819b397555d03cedf085f48

Decanter.com

93 / 100

byJane Ansonthe6/30/2018

Another excellent year, the 1995 and 1996 vintage have definitely held up in colour and structure. The 1995 perhaps has the markings of a slightly hotter year in terms of the fruit ripeness, which veers towards fig, although there is still that unremitting sense of a wine that delivers layer upon layer of succulent soft fruits as you travel through the palate, buoyed up by a clear freshness. This wine is an example of what makes this appellation world class.

Wine Advocate

90 / 100

byNeal Martinthe4/29/2008

A deep garnet core with brick rim. The nose is very reticent at first, developing touch of blackberry, earth, hazelnut and sandalwood. Still comes across a little tight after 13 years. The palate is medium-bodied, very well balanced with a slightly spicy mid-palate. Mulberry, blackberry, a touch of tobacco and orange peel. Perhaps it lacks a little persistency on the finish and a sense of Saint Julien overall. A good wine, but I wanted more. Drink 2012-2025 Tasted March 2008.

Wine Advocate

90 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe2/28/1998

While not as backward as the 1996, the opaque purple-colored 1995 is a tannic, unevolved, dense, concentrated wine that will require 8-10 years of cellaring. The 1995 exhibits pain grille, blackcurrant, mineral, and subtle tobacco in its complex yet youthful aromatics. Powerful, dense, concentrated cassis and blueberry flavors might be marginally softer than in the 1996, but there is still plenty of grip and structure to this big wine. Anticipated maturity: 2005-2030.

Wine Spectator

93 / 100

the1/31/1998

Best Léoville Poyferré ever. Big, mouthpuckering wine. Bubbling over with mint, blackberry and currant character. Full-bodied, with extremely full yet finely textured tannins and a long, silky texture. Try after 2002.

Wine Advocate

89 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe1/1/1998

Sweet, jammy, black currant, and spicy oak aromas reveal few signs of evolution. Beautifully integrated tannin is barely noticeable in this suave, elegant, concentrated yet strikingly well-balanced wine. With a saturated purple color, admirable sweetness of fruit, fine purity and extract, and a gracious personality, the 1995 Leoville-Poyferre will be at its peak between 2001-2020. Last tasted 1/97

Wine Advocate

88-90 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe2/28/1997

Leoville-Poyferre is making greater and greater efforts to push the quality level closer to that of its neighbor, Leoville-Las-Cases. The hiring of the famed oenologist, Michel Rolland, the beginning of malolactic fermentation in barrel (started in 1994), a stricter selection process, and the construction of a superb new cuverie are all signs that Leoville-Poyferre is set to emerge as one of the stars of the northern Medoc. Sweet, jammy, blackcurrant, and spicy oak aromas reveal few signs of evolution. Beautifully integrated tannin is barely noticeable in this suave, elegant, concentrated yet strikingly well-balanced wine. With a saturated purple color, admirable sweetness of fruit, fine purity and extract, and a gracious personality, the 1995 Leoville-Poyferre will be at its peak between 2001-2020.

Wine Advocate

88-90 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe4/30/1996

The 1995 reveals an impressively saturated black/purple color, followed by a sweet, chocolatey, cassis-scented nose with hints of hickory smoke, toast, and charcoal. The wine is low in acidity, with excellent, possibly outstanding concentration, a layered feel in the mouth which adds to the appealing texture, and a long, thick, sumptuous, tannic finish. This should be a Leoville-Poyferre to rival the 1990, perhaps even the 1982. Stay tuned. It will unquestionably last for 20 years. No other than Libourne's Michel Rolland has been brought in as the consulting oenologist for Leoville-Poyferre. As a result, malolactic fermentation is now being done in oak casks, and the wine has taken on greater richness and intensity.