“This liquid is simply alive in the mouth, culminating in an epically long finish that will leave your mouth practically tingling. WOW!” – Wine Advocate

Wish we had more Clos du Marquis.

But fret not, we’re staying in Saint Julien for a while, literally just across the street, and we’re turning things up a few notches as we go!

TRIPPLE 98’s, and MORE 97’s than we can count!

AT A CRAZY LOW PRICE TOO.

You may remember their 2018 from our offer a couple of years ago, which Jeb Dunnuck picked as his #1 Wine of the Year for 2021. Taking it back a couple of vintages, library style, the 2016 is rearing to go! “It’s certainly one of the most flamboyant and opulent wines in the vintage, yet it remains perfectly balanced, with masses of polished tannins, no hard edges, and a fabulous finish.” he praises, in his enthusiastic 98-point write-up.

Seriously, this is the perfect wine to drink now while you let your 2018 Poyferré’s age – OR - to fill the hole left in your cellar because you guzzled them already like we did…

According to Forbes “When it comes to St.-Julien located below the appellation of Pauillac, where Lafite and Latour are, there is a Château that always comes to mind when thinking of a ‘Super Second’ and that is none other than Léoville-Las Cases. Yet a sibling seems to always follow behind Las Cases, either not taken as seriously in the past or not thought of at all, and that is Léoville-Poyferré. They just recently celebrated their 100th anniversary of the Cuvelier family running the estate, which is a key factor in majorly raising the quality to such a point that some would argue that Poyferré is performing at the same level as Las Cases in some vintages, although it will typically be priced 40% less.”

2016, you may remember, was a fabulous ‘solar’ vintage, producing ripe, lush wines with supple tannins. For Léoville-Poyferré, this is doubly true – the wine shows plenty of freshness of black fruits, just starting to show hints of tertiary tobacco and truffle at the edges of its firm velour-textured grip. We are seriously going to have trouble not guzzling this one, too!

Obviously, this wine caught the eye of many critics. Too many to list! Read through the praise below…

But don’t take too long. This will go in a flash, sorry.

98 Points – Jeb Dunnuck “Tasted on four separate occasions where this wine rated 97+, 98, 98, and 99, the 2016 Château Léoville-Poyferré is a brilliant bottle of wine and is certainly in the same league as the 2000, 2003, 2009, and 2010. Made from 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot, and the balance Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc, aged in 80% new oak, this brilliantly concentrated, full-bodied, opulent beast of a wine offers a heavenly bouquet of crème de cassis, blackcurrants, smoked earth, tobacco leaf, and ample crushed rocks. It’s certainly one of the most flamboyant and opulent wines in the vintage, yet it remains perfectly balanced, with masses of polished tannins, no hard edges, and a fabulous finish. It will be drinkable in 3-4 years yet keep for 3-4 decades. Drink 2022-2062.”

98 Points – Inside Bordeaux “Immediate depths straight off the aromatics, this is standout in a very strong lineup. Enticiting and confident, full of estate signature, juicy and elongated tannins, spiced black fruits, baking spice, crème de cassis, tobacco and sandalwood. 80% new oak for ageing, now fully integrated but still giving a smoky kick. Drink 2026-2048.”

98 Points – Decanter “What a wine - such class from the excellent 2016 vintage. A touch of meatiness to the nose with bacon, green peppers and black pepper. So expansive in the mouth while at the same time seeming a little closed or perhaps on its way to closing down. Soft tannins, fine grained giving real presence but they’re well integrated. Sophisticated and broad shouldered, this has a soft attack but giving such depth on the mid palate. Bold, powerful and well presented. A classic expression of claret and the St-Julien signature characteristics of minerality, graphite, slate, wet stone and juicy blackcurrant and plum. Closer to the style of 2010, still very tannic with the chalky, mineral texture standing out. Lovely definition and concentration all while being so refined. This will age for decades. 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc, 6% Petit Verdot. Harvest 5-20 October. Drink 2027-2048.”

97+ Points – Wine Advocate “Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Léoville Poyferré hits the ground running with intense cassis, violets, dark chocolate, menthol and fragrant earth notions complemented by nuances of cigar box and smoked meats. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is charged with energetic, super intense black fruit and floral layers, beautifully supported with super firm, ripe, grainy tannins and seamless freshness. This liquid is simply alive in the mouth, culminating in an epically long finish that will leave your mouth practically tingling. WOW! Drink 2021-2050.”

97+ Points – The Wine Independent “Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2016 Leoville Poyferre is a little shut down at first, slowly yielding scents of warm cassis, plum preserves, and black raspberries, plus hints of tar, licorice, and fragrant earth. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is rich and densely laden with seductive black fruits, supported by firm, rounded tannins and plenty of freshness, finishing long and incredibly pure. This is still so young in color and evolution - amazing! Drink 2024-2054.”

97 Points – Vinous “The 2016 Léoville-Poyferré is fabulous. Rich, ample and dramatic in bearing, the 2016 possesses striking intensity and vertical lift. The tannins certainly need at least a few years in bottle to soften, but there is so much to look forward to. Graphite, menthol, lavender and licorice complement the inky blue/purplish fruit beautifully. The bottled wine has a bit more Cabernet Sauvignon and less Merlot than the en primeur sample. I tasted the 2016 three times. It’s least favorable showing was at the château. For readers and proprietors who think wines always taste better on site…they don’t. Drink 2026-2046.”

97 Points – Wine Spectator “Richly layered, with a core of well-steeped plum, blackberry and black currant fruit flavors cruising through, flanked by ganache, sweet tobacco and warm tar notes. There’s a plush, toasty coating but the wine’s energy and nearly unbridled fruit will easily soak that up. A last echo of violet is further evidence of a lovely evolution ahead. Best from 2025 through 2040. 17,083 cases made.”

97 Points – James Suckling “Wow. The power and depth to this wine is super with a full , fleshy palate. Yet, it’s so tight and integrated with panache and energy. Chewy tannins, yet seamless and melted into the wine. Extremely long and beautiful. Very polished now. This needs at least five to six years to resolve the steely tannins that run through this wine. Take a look from 2024. A blend of 61 per cent cabernet sauvignon, 27 per cent merlot, eight per cent merlot and four per cent cabernet franc.”

97 Points – Wine Cellar Insider “Still, deeply colored, the wine is a bit reticent at the moment and it takes a bit of effort to unfurl before you discover all of its layers of perfectly ripe, deep, rich, lush, polished, black and red fruits. The tannins are ripe, but they need at least 5-7 more years before you find all the softness and natural, supple, opulence enjoyed in the top vintages of Leoville Poyferre. The wine is powerful, long, deep, concentrated, full-bodied, and intense, with a serious depth-of flavor from start to finish. Drink from 2029-2060.”

97 Points – Andreas Larrson “Pure nose of inky dark fruit, stony and gravely with crushed cassis, plum, sage and tobacco. Very dense palate with fine proportions, ripe but weighty tannin, fine volume with savoury dark fruit, sweet spices and a very long and lingering finish.