The wines of Château Léoville Poyferré are first distinguished by their considerable aromatic complexity ranging from red fruits, such as cherry, to mushroom for older vintages.

Thanks to its terroir, Léoville Poyferré displays a magnificent balance between alcohol, acidity and tannins. The wine develops a sumptuous velvet quality in addition to plenty of elegance and finesse, altogether with a very great potential for aging.

Rating

Blackberry, mineral and citrus fruit aromas. Full-bodied, with slightly angular tannins, but fruity, with a pleasant tobacco undertone on the finish. Just coming around.--’95/’96 Bordeaux retrospective. Best after 2007. –JS Wine Spectator 90 points (Jan 1 2007) This fabulous 1996 was tasted three times from bottle, and it is unquestionably the finest wine produced by this estate since their blockbuster 1990. Medium to full-bodied, with a saturated black/purple color, the nose offers notes of cedar, jammy black fruits, smoke, truffles, and subtle new oak. In the mouth, there is impressive fruit extraction, a tannic, full-bodied structure, and a classic display of power and finesse. The longer it sat in the glass, the more impressive the wine became. Backward, and massive in terms of its extract and richness, this should prove to be a sensational Leoville-Poyferre for drinking over the next three decades. Anticipated maturity: 2007-2028.  Robert Parker 93 points (Apr 1999)