Château Léoville Poyferré 2006

Dense ruby/purple, with sweet blackberry and black currant fruit with hints of smoke, espresso roast, and new saddle leather, this is another impressively endowed but tannic, backward style of wine. The concentration, brightness, and depth are all present, but I can't see it being even approachable in less than 5-7 years. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2028.

Blackberry, licorice and blueberry aromas lead to a medium- to full-bodied palate, with fine tannins and a clean finish. Firm and attractive. Best after 2014.

Beautifully dense, this generous, rich wine combines great fruit with a firm but sweet structure. The new wood element is still prominent, but this is now beginning to blend well with the ripe fruit. To finish, the tannins reassert themselves.

Wonderful aromatics that display beautiful aromas of bramble fruits, evolving with age into glowing embers without sacrificing fruit. A rich smoked chicory note is evident that sets Léoville Poyferré apart from the other two Bordeaux Léovilles. Still young and crackling with life with undeniable exoticism. There is a real sense of lift through the palate and excellent persistency.

73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot. Deep crimson. Starting to fade at the rim. Sweet, concentrated but spicy nose with some dustiness on the edge of the palate. Really muscular and fine. Long. Beautifully constructed. Luscious enough for current drinking but obviously has masses of potential. Ripe tannins. (JR)

The 2006 Léoville-Poyferré has an impressive Cabernet driven nose, almost Pauillac-like with pencil box and mint aromas infusing the vivacious black fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, very smooth in the mouth although not amazingly complex. Perhaps here it has lost some of its youthful zest, though there is impressive muscle with plenty of cedar-infused red fruit laced with white pepper on the finish. Fine, but where is it going to go? Tasted at the Léoville-Poyferré vertical at the château with Sara Lecompte Cuvelier.

Chewy tannins, crisp fruit and the structure to age, the wine is tannic and clearly demands time before its firm, Cabernet Sauvignon character can soften and come together. Give it at least 5-10 more years, or a few hours in the decanter before popping a bottle.

Very dark, dense purple-violet colour with a ruby rim. Still restrained bouquet, lots of cherry notes, lilac, floral nuances, with a wonderful, deeply rooted terroir spice underneath. Elegant palate, extremely fine tannins, as in many great 2006s, showing power and length. A great St-Julien, close to 19/20.

Dense purple-ruby with a lilac sheen. Powerful bouquet, slightly sweaty at first, with dried fruit notes, then blackberry and blackcurrant; in the background, truffle appears, along with slightly dull earthy notes. On the palate, the wine is both refined and powerful, with supportive, very well-distributed astringency; at its core it shows tremendous power, making it a bulldozer that in 10 years will impress as a very characterful Poyferré, like a sumo wrestler. If it properly digests its full potential, it will land at 19/20. 08: Very dark, saturated purple-lilac with a ruby rim. Still a restrained bouquet, lots of cherry tones, lilac, floral, with a terrific, deep-reaching terroir spice beneath. Elegant palate; the tannins, as with many great 2006s, are extremely fine, showing power and length. Great St. Julien, close to 19/20!

Great quality, classic but a little less generous at this point in its life than the 2005 that precedes it. Liqourice root, raspberry leaf, smoked earth, cassis, bilberry, all those tight smooth-skinned high-acidity autumn fruits. Great potential, and sings its St Julien tune to perfection but remains a little austere right now. Harvest September 21 to October 7. 80% new oak.

A blend of 73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot, and 6% Petit Verdot, the 2006 Leoville Poyferre has a deep garnet-brick color. It swaggers out with confident notes of baked plums, redcurrant preserves, and dried cherries, followed by nuances of new leather, dried Provence herbs, tobacco leaf, and rusty nails. Medium-bodied, the palate is laden with mineral and dried herb layers, supported by chewy tannins and just enough freshness, finishing on a savory note.

The nose is fresh and refined, elegant throughout, offering plenty of finesse, a touch of restraint and a delicate, fine-grained texture. It reveals notes of camphor, vibrant cherry and, more subtly, blackcurrant, alongside hints of Boysenberry, fairly ripe/crushed small red berries, fine touches of flint and camphor, discreet hints of liquorice, cherry blossom, as well as subtle notes of toast and spices. The palate is fruity, balanced and refined, with minerality, juiciness, a tangy acidic backbone, good definition, a certain savouriness, energy, elegance and depth, along with a touch of richness and a finely tight-knit feel to the substance. On the palate, the wine expresses notes of juicy/tangy cherry, fleshy/tangy redcurrant and, more lightly, blackberry, with hints of violet, fairly ripe black plum, fine touches of camphor and flint, a subtle touch of toasted hazelnut, as well as a hint of cocoa and toast. The tannins are precise, refined and structuring. Good length.

Logo on the cork: LBG Deep colour. Very aromatic nose with ripe, spicy fruit. Soft, fruity, flavoursome and pleasant on the palate, with presence from the mid-palate through to the finish. Good length. Ready to drink.