Léoville Poyferré - Saint-Julien 2014

Vinous

96

byNeal Martinthe4/2/2024

The 2014 Léoville Poyferré has a magnificent nose that is a cut above its peers: more concentrated, more delineated and has stunning depth with complexity that only comes through with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, but this Saint-Julien has real backbone and density, with impressive substance towards the finish. One of the best wines on the Left Bank. This is the finest bottle I have tasted, and it is far from representing the best Left Bank in this vintage. Tasted blind at the Southwold 10-Year-On tasting.

Vinous

95

byNeal Martinthe3/28/2018

The 2014 Léoville Poyferré has a very complex bouquet with blackberry, bilberry, crushed stone, cedar and hints of violet. It is extremely focused, intense rather than overtly powerful. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, crisp and generous, conveying much more tension and precision than the Léoville Las-Cases. It gradually fans out in the second half with real mineralité, quite profound in the context of the vintage. Outstanding. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting.

Wine Advocate

93

byNeal Martinthe3/31/2017

The 2014 Leoville-Poyferre was surprisingly backward and tight on the nose (usually it is the most expressive and generous Léoville in its youth). The precision and focus is intact, but it is broody and sultry at the moment. The palate is medium-bodied with firm structure, which suggests that it has turned volte face since its opulent showing in barrel. Overall, this comes across as perhaps a slightly more austere and masculine wine from Didier Cuvelier, though that is not a criticism, just an observation. I would like to see a little more persistence on the finish, but the tidings bode well for this mercurial and fascinating Léoville-Poyferre. I can see it improving with bottle age, hence the plus sign against my score.

Jamessuckling.com

94

byJames Sucklingthe2/16/2017

A ripe, generous and substantial wine for this appellation with some real concentration, a solid core of ripe tannins and enough acidity to carry the long, savory finish. Needs four to five years to show its true potential. A beauty. Try in 2022.

Vinous

95

byAntonio Gallonithe2/6/2017

The 2014 Léoville Poyferré is gorgeous. Dark, sumptuous and ample on the palate, it possesses remarkable depth. Dark cherry, plum, smoke, scorched earth, licorice and menthol all flesh out as this radiant, deeply expressive wine shows off its considerable pedigree. The 2014 is going to need time to fully come together, but it is super-impressive. Tasted two times.

Wine Enthusiast

94

byRoger Vossthe2/2/2017

The wine is concentrated with tannins that come from both the firm fruit and the wood aging. It is packed with blackberry flavors that come through the structure strongly. The velvet texture (that is just a hint at the moment) is going to bring out the richness of this wine produced with consultation from Michel Rolland. Drink from 2024.

Wine Spectator

93

byJames Molesworththe1/4/2017

Very pure, with a beautiful beam of violet and plum sauce carried by a chiseled graphite spine. Gorgeous anise and roasted apple wood notes are inlaid seamlessly on the finish. Shows ample grip and drive. Rock-solid. Best from 2020 through 2030.—J.M.

Le Point

17,5-18

byJacques Dupontthe5/21/2015

Fruits rouges, cerise burlat, bouche ronde, onctueuse, fraîche, longue, généreuse, très fruitée, beaux tanins, de l’éclat.

Vinous

92-95

byAntonio Gallonithe5/11/2015

The 2014 Léoville Poyferré is impressive. A big, broad-shouldered St. Julien, the 2014 blossoms in the glass with superb depth and richness. Dark red cherry, plum, spice, menthol, crushed flowers, herbs and leather are some of the notes that burst onto the palate in an energetic, tightly wound Poyferré. The 2014 finishes with notable depth and huge, explosive intensity, all of which suggest it will require considerable cellaring. This is without question one of the stars of the vintage.

The Wine Cellar Insider

93-94

byJeff Levethe5/5/2015

Intense in hue with silky, bright tannins, this wine offers the palate an assortment of plump, ripe, dark-red skinned fruit and a long, lingering finish with distinctive depth, structure, balance and brightness in the end notes. Blending 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot, the wine reached 13.25% alcohol. 93-94 Pts

Wine Advocate

91-93

byNeal Martinthe4/30/2015

The Château Léoville-Poyferré 2014 is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot picked between 1 and 14 October, a little later than some of its Saint Julien neighbors. It has one of the most opulent set of aromatics of the appellation, with crème de cassis, boysenberry jam and macerated small dark cherries - an extravagant bouquet in the context of the growing season. The palate is full-bodied with great density and power. There is a lot of weight in this Saint Julien, spicy in the mouth with a healthy pinch of white pepper towards the finish that feels long in the mouth, although I would like to see more finesse coming through by the time of bottling. As usual, this is one of the most decadent Saint Julien wines, but one that is well-crafted by Didier Cuvelier. Give this several years in bottle.

Asian Palate

92-93

byJeannie Cho Lee MWthe4/20/2015

Dark berries and spices are attractive on the nose followed by wonderful weight and intensity on the palate. Supple and velvety with gorgeous tannins that caress. This wine will age beautifully over the next decade.

Decanter.com

17,75

bySteven Spurrierthe4/17/2015

Richly extracted aroma and palate – quite a broad style as is usual for Poyferré, and a very good future ahead. Always the richest of the three Léovilles. Drink: 2020-2035 (92)

Jancis Robinson

16,5

byJancis Robinsonthe4/16/2015

Dark crimson. Meaty with a note of treacle on the nose. Simpler than some. Relatively round and approachable but with lovely balance. The fruit almost hides the tannins – which are certainly there. Just a little spindly on the end. But very appetising. Rather glorious really.  Drink 2024-2038 (16.5++)

Jamessuckling.com

93-94

byJames Sucklingthe4/10/2015

Very fine and pretty with blueberry, mineral and hazelnut character. Full body, succulent fruits and tannins, as well as a long finish. Savory. Very polished as always.

timatkin.com

93

byTim Atkin MWthe4/7/2015

René Gabriel

18

byRené Gabrielthe4/1/2015

60 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 35 % Merlot, 3 % Cabernet Franc, 2 % Petit Verdot. 36 hl/ha. Extrem dunkles Purpur mit lila und violetten Reflexen. Ich hatte ihn, grad nach dem Barton und Ducru in der Nase. Während die anderen eher leise auftraten war dies ein absolutes Rodeobouquet! Viel schwarze Kirschen, viel Cassis, dunkle Edelhölzer, Arabica- Kaffeetouch. Dahinter aber auch ganz fein grüne Cabernetspuren zeigend. Im Gaumen ein Mund voll Wein, fleischig, stoffig, komplex und reich in allen Belangen. Angefangen mit den reifen, markanten Gerbstoffen über die Konzentration bis hin zum katapultartigen Finale. Unter den Deuxièmes war dies die arroganteste Version. Aber warum darf ein grosser Cru denn keine Ecken und Kanten haben? Vor allem wenn er genau so bestückt ist. Ein nobler Bauer mit Saint-Julien- Power! Wenn er alle Primeur-Versprechungen bis zur Flasche einhält, dann kann er in der Genussreife 19/20 pflücken. 18/20 2024 – 2048

Wine Enthusiast

94

byRoger Vossthe4/1/2015

93–95. Barrel Sample. While the wine does have an austere side, with dark tannins and intensely fresh acidity, it also has plenty of ripe fruit notes. It has just a hint of extraction at the end that needs to soften out.   — R.V. (4/1/2015)

Wine Spectator

92-95

byJames Molesworththe3/30/2015

Very stylish, with blackberry, black cherry and black currant fruit already melded together with subtle charcoal andganache notes. Offers a velvety feel, but isn't shy on grip or depth. This is sneakily long. A lovely showing.