Château Léoville Poyferré 2022

Open, with roasted notes, a touch of mocha, dark berries and cool smoke; dense, compact, meaty palate—almost two mouthfuls of wine—very prominent tannins, ample fruit; impressively long. Excellent quality, great potential.

Solid, dark and winey, with a well-structured core that holds blackberry and plum reduction notes in a tightly knit mix of apple wood, licorice root and warm cast iron. The long and direct finish throws off hints of violet and ink. For the cellar. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Best from 2027 through 2042.

Highly concentrated and deep on the palate, this extends vertically from the start with layers of fleshy blackcurrant, super-juicy cherries and salty stones. I love the mouthfeel; there’s still some sticky liquorice spice edging the tannins, but this feels confident and showy. I like the force – it harnesses the power of the vintage while tipping into the glamorous side with elegance and precision. Chewy and utterly moreish. Great work. 4% Petit Verdot completes the blend. 3.77 pH.

The explosive nose, with its spectacular display of flowers, espresso, licorice, black cherries, spice, and tobacco, instantly commands attention. But the palate seals the deal with a nonstop parade of luscious, silky-textured black and red fruits that coat your taste buds with pure, deep black and red berries. The sensuous finish hits all the right notes from start to finish. The wine is a blend of 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, and 4% Petit Verdot. Drink from 2029–2055.

Dark ruby in colour with an opaque core, purple reflections, and a subtle ochre rim. On the nose, aromas of black forest fruits with delicate notes of tobacco in the background, some liquorice, and a hint of fine oak. The juicy palate is tightly woven and fruity, with fine spicy nuances, integrated acidity, ripe tannins, saline and persistent, with a hint of nougat; still needs time, promising potential for the future. (25/1, +40, PM).

Reminding me of the 2018 (as well as the 2009), if not slightly more concentrated, the 2022 Château Léoville Poyferré is one of the most opulent and flamboyant wines out of the Médoc in 2022, and it has incredible intensity while staying light on its feet and graceful. Its dense, glass-staining purple hue is followed by a sensational perfume of crème de cassis, graphite, darker chocolate, scorched earth, and flowers. Full-bodied on the palate, it brings extravagant levels of fruit as well as a seamless mouthfeel, beautifully integrated oak, tannins, and acidity, no hard edges, and a gorgeous finish. It shines even today, yet it has beautiful underlying structure and will evolve gracefully over the coming 30+ years. The 2022 is based on 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, and 4% each of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, aged 18-20 months in 80% new oak.

Intense, powerful, delicious, with creamy raspberry and black cherry fruits, textured and confident in its tannic grip, with a freshness that runs from opening to the close of play. Underlines just how well Saint-Julien delivered in 2022. Sara Lecompte-Cuvelier, director and co-owner.

The nose, subtle and captivating, reveals delicately melded, harmonious fruit, along with notes of Chinese lacquer, elevated by the delicacy of purple rose and the indulgence of a chocolate ganache. The palate is intensely fruity, juicy and expressive. All the signature opulence of Poyferré is expressed here with majesty. Both ripe and structured, the wine vibrates with irresistible energy. A true delight.

A superb bouquet in both intensity and complexity. It first highlights its freshness with aromas of peppermint and floral nuances, followed by notes of blueberry and elderberry and a hint of graphite. Creamy on the attack, the wine stands out for its harmony, with suave, silky sides paving the way for powerful, compact tannins and a healthy austerity that ensures freshness, salinity, and a persistent finish. A truly great Poyferré that will reward patience!

The nose is fruity, elegant, racy, straightforward, precise, delicate, and complex, with a multi-layered/3D dimension, a lovely fine, well-managed grain. It reveals notes of Boysen blackberry, cubeb pepper, and strawberry, combined with a touch of elegantly roasted small berries, as well as hints of violet and tobacco. The palate is beautifully guided, supple, elegant, deep, aromatic, mineral, delicate, airy, candid, and offers accuracy. It delivers an elegant darkness, a lovely infusion-like character, and precision. On the palate, this wine expresses notes of pulpy/juicy blackcurrant and crushed cherry, and, more slightly, violet, combined with touches of purple plum, as well as hints of elegantly roasted strawberry, fine hints of chocolate, toasty notes, toasted almonds, and salinity. The tannins are flavorful, precise, plush, and fine. Silky, delicate, with aerial power in finesse. A subtle hint of eucalyptus and fresh violet in the background. Good length. A fresh, supple, and mineral wine.

Deep, intense, purplish colour. A highly aromatic nose: refined, fruity, pure, subtle and complex. Ultra-refined on the attack, with a silky, velvety body, the wine glides across the palate—juicy, fresh, noble, complex and nuanced. Simply impossible to spit out! Dare to open it young.

58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, 4% Petit Verdot, pH 3.87, 33.4 hl/ha, 14.4% abv. Densely interwoven bouquet, beguiling violet perfume, wild cherry and graphite, with a backdrop of forest-berry cocktail, dried lilac blossoms and blueberry jelly. On the straight, powerful palate with silky texture, balanced verve, tightly knit tannic framework, deep and dense, fine-grained extract and a well-trained body. In the concentrated, long-lasting finish, the St. Julien explodes with blackberries, profound terroir spice and a slightly floury astringency. This powerhouse has once again proved its exceptional class in this vintage. Harvest: 8–28 September.

The 2022 Léoville-Poyferré has a well defined bouquet with blackberry, raspberry and subtle floral scents, with just a touch of warmth coming from the alcohol. The palate is medium-bodied with rounded tannins. It is low in acidity yet retains balance. There are layers of blackberry, boysenberry and a touch of allspice, with quite a persistent and powerful finish. Give this several years in bottle. Tasted blind at the Southwold tasting in London.