Léoville Poyferré - Saint-Julien 2012

Wine Advocate

92-92

par Neal Martin le 20/09/2022

The 2012 Léoville-Poyferré has quite an atypical strict bouquet with blackberry, melted tar, graphite and crushed stone aromas. This opens very nicely in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with grippy notes on the entry, fairly saline with good tension, superb backbone and density on the finish. This is very promising, but it may require more bottle age just to smooth out its edges. Tasted twice at Bordeaux Index's Ten Year-On tasting and blind at the Southwold Ten-Year On tasting.

Vinous

92

par Neal Martin le 30/06/2021

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.

Wine Advocate

92

par Robert Parker le 30/04/2015

Owned by the Cuvelier family since 1920, this property over the last 20 years has made some great wines in the Médoc. The 2012, a blend of 61% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, 8% Petit Verdot and 4% Cabernet Franc, is opaque purple, thick-looking, and from bottle much more impressive than it was from barrel. This very extracted, rich, full-bodied, masculine Léoville Poyferré needs a good 5-8 years of bottle age and should evolve well for at least 20-25 years. Loads of blackberry and cassis, crushed rock and graphite notes are present in this medium to full-bodied, impressively concentrated and pure wine. Forget it for a while, as this is one of the bigger, richer Médocs. (92+)

Jamessuckling.com

92

par James Suckling le 15/02/2015

On the nose and palate this red suggests red and black plums with cedar notes and hints of cloves. Full body, firm tannins, fresh acidity and an intense finish. Minerally, too. Polished tannins. Drink in 2020.

Wine Spectator

91

par James Molesworth le 10/02/2015

A solid, muscular version, with a slightly chewy feel along the edges, while the core of steeped plum, anise and blackberry paste waits in reserve. Reveals ample graphite details on the finish, with a warm fruitcake note chiming in. Just needs some cellaring to lose the burly edge. Best from 2017 through 2024. 15,405 cases made. –JM

Jancis Robinson

16,5

par Jancis Robinson le 11/12/2014

Lovely sweet dark fruit on the nose. Riper than most, counterbalanced by a savoury dark-chocolate aroma, slight char. Then sweet and juicy on the palate. Surprisingly approachable and soft but plenty of fruit and depth in the mouth. A bit abrupt at the end. (JH)13% Drink 2020-2032

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

87-89

par Ian D'Agata le 30/06/2013

Deep ruby.  Subdued aromas of smoky blackberry and violet, along with a slightly raw herbal/peppery component.  Then supple and round in the mouth, but with a diffuse quality to the dark berry and chocolate flavors.  A wine of modest complexity, finishing with only average length and with slightly bitter tannins.

Le Point

16

par Jacques Dupont le 16/05/2013

Bouche tendue, vive, petits tanins croquants, beaucoup de charme et des tanins vifs en finale. Beaucoup de fruit. Structure tannique séveuse. O= 2017 G= 13 ans.

Wine Advocate

91-93

par Neal Martin le 02/05/2013

Tasted twice with consistent notes, the Grand Vin is a blend of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot and 6% Petit Verdot (there is no Cabernet Franc unlike in 2011.) It was picked between 8th October and 19th October at 36hl/ha, when there was a torrential downpour and two plots were spoiled. The grapes were sorted on an Italian optical sorting machine. There is certainly impressive purity and intensity on the nose with ripe blackberry dark plum and touches of vanilla, a little more exotic than the 2011 this time last year. The palate is medium-bodied with ripe sweet tannins. It is typically relatively modern in style, quite opulent for a 2012 with a rounded, velvety finish with plush new oak (85%). Very fine. Tasted April 2013.

Wine Spectator

90-93

par James Molesworth le 30/04/2013

Solid, with good flesh around the core of plum and blackberry fruit. Shows ample dark toast and ganache notes, displaying chewy yet integrated grip. —J.M.

matthewjukes.com

18

par Matthew Jukes le 30/04/2013

Fascinating, kaleidoscopic palate with nearly 1/3 Merlot playing an intriguing role. Atypical & intriguing.

Wine Advocate

89-91

par Robert Parker le 26/04/2013

This wine seemed primary and not totally filled out or complete. No doubt it will put on some weight given the significant Merlot content in the final blend. There is a certain firmness, stiffness and lack of intensity on the mid-palate, and some tannins kick in in the finish. Nevertheless, there is more to this wine than first meets the palate. It is medium to full-bodied with an opaque color, good ripeness and some attractive weight, but is closed and hard. It needs time to pull itself together, and it should turn out to be an excellent, possibly outstanding effort.

The Wine Cellar Insider

91-93

par Jeff Leve le 26/04/2013

From an assemblage of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot and 6% Petit Verdot, the wine reached 13.4% alcohol. The pH is 3.8. The wine will be aged in 85% new French for 20 months. Licorice, black cherry, coffee bean and stone notes make up the aromatics. On the palate, the wine is soft, round, medium bodied, and fresh, showing signs of oak in the finish. 91-93 Pts

Jancis Robinson

17,5

par Jancis Robinson le 23/04/2013

Drink 2022-2038Dark purple. Some real energy hidden in this, not desperately expressive wine. Voluptuous on the palate. Gosh what a lot of effort has gone into this. Full marks for effort… Lots of lusciousness and then it's drawn to a dry close like someone tightening a purse string. Though I'd guess not too much purse-string tightening while making this… Appealing freshness.

Decanter.com

17,5

par Steven Spurrier le 22/04/2013

Dense purple-red, well-concentrated ripeness, with 2012 greenness to be absorbed as it ages, good wine, good future. 17.5/20pts ( 91/100pts)Drink: 2017 - 2030

Jean-Marc QUARIN

16,75

par Jean-Marc Quarin le 22/04/2013

Couleur sombre, intense et belle. Nez fruité, mûr avec une pointe d’extraction. Belle entrée en bouche ample puis le vin se développe puissant et serré, avec du goût et des tanins un peu apparents pour le cru. Bonne longueur.

Jamessuckling.com

92-93

par James Suckling le 04/04/2013

This is chewy with a balanced and polished tannin structure. Full body, with very good depth. Long finish. It keeps going on and on. Very well done. Better than 2011. 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, and 6% Petit Verdot. Merlot made it happen here.