The 2017 Léoville Poyferré is an elegant, charming wine with a deep garnet color and aromas of violets, Black Forest cake, and blueberry preserves. It features soft, fine tannins, bright red and black fruits, and a velvet-like texture. Exotic spices like black pepper and milk chocolate add complexity. Blended from 67% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot, and 2% Petit Verdot, it’s balanced and will continue to age beautifully over the next couple of decades. Despite early challenges in the vintage, its exceptional terroir shines through.

Decanter | D 96
Published: Mar 30, 2022
Drink: 2026-2049 

Much more bramble aromas, still quite expressive, a little bit vegetal on the nose still, more direct and straight. Lovely hit of bright red and black fruits on the palate, fills the mouth with a soft juicines, this has more of a velvet texture - the tannins and juice integrated and balanced to give a good mouthfeel. Not massively complex but it's elegant and charming, very linear and direct from start to finish. There's a nice presence here, nice purity, a nice harmony here. Nice lift at the end too, bright and cheery. Totally charming with a backing of soft exotic spicing - black pepper, liquorice, clove and dusting of milk chocolate with the blackcurrant and black cherry. Menthol ending. Really lovely and surprising. 67% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot. Harvest 20 September-3 October.

Jamessuckling.com | JS 95
Published: Feb 14, 2021

A red with currant and blueberry aromas and flavors and some citrus and vanilla. Medium body and creamy, integrated tannins. Shows finesse and depth for the vintage. One of the best from the appellation. Serious for the vintage. Drinkable now, but much better in 2022.

The Wine Advocate | RP 94+
Published: Mar 16, 2020
Drink: 2022-2045

Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, the 2017 Léoville Poyferré needs a little coaxing to reveal pretty scents of violets, Black Forest cake and blueberry preserves with hints of raspberry leaves, roses, cigar box and fragrant earth. Medium-bodied, the palate has a quiet intensity with loads of subtle layers and a well-poised frame of soft, fine-grained tannins, finishing long and refreshing.

Jancisrobinson.com | JR 17++
Published: Oct 5, 2021
Drink: 2026-2040

Tasted blind. Deep ruby colour. Blue fruit, crème de cassis and baking spices with a hint of fig on the nose, this is inky and rich. Plush and chewy on the palate, there are layers of charred wood, incense, blueberry and bramble fruit together. This is a powerful and ripe but structured wine. The smoky oak is evident for now but it should integrate nicely over the next few years. Full bodied for the vintage, with a long and toasty finish.

Leoville-poyferre.fr

Second Grand Cru Classé in 1855, Château Léoville Poyferré is an emblematic estate in the Saint-Julien appellation. The vineyard extends over 80 hectares of magnificent deep gravel terroirs along the Gironde estuary. The wines are sensual, vibrant and precise, and their ageing potential is matched only by their charm.

2017 The blessing of a great terroir
As the devastating effects of frosts have a serious impact on the viticultural landscape of Bordeaux, Saint-Julien can give praise thanks to Saint Vincent, patron Saint of the vineyard workers, blessed by his protection from the worst of the exceptional frosts and safeguarded for the duration of the vintage.
2017, not too dissimilar to its companions of misfortune in sevens, started off on the wrong foot. A very dry winter and late severe spring frosts were then turned around with a warm pleasant summer.
This beautiful weather coupled with our unique terroir really raised the bar for our 2017 vintage. The result is a wine that is dense, marked with an exquisite aromatic expression, all wrapped in a vintage with surprising cellaring potential. An outsider, quite contrary to its reputation!

 Blend
67% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot

Soils
Terraces of Mindel gravel, sandy-clay subsoil

Harvest Dates
20th September to 3rd October