Chateau Leoville Poyferre

Region: Saint Julien, Medoc, Bordeaux, France

Producer: Chateau Leoville Poyferre, 2-e Grand cru Classe du Medoc en 1855

Wine type: dry red wine

Grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon 60%, Merlot 30%, Petit Verdot 7%, Cabernet Franc 3%

Alcohol content: 13.5 %

 

Winery

Chateau Leoville Poyferre is located in Medoc, appellation Saint Julien, on the left bank of Bordeaux. According to the classification of 1855, Chateau Leoville Poyferre belongs to the 2nd Grand Cru class.

Its current owner Didier Cuvelier says that «the Saint Julien appellation is small in size, yet big in talent.»

The history of the chateau is long and not without its ups and downs. The vineyards of an old mansion, which was initially known as Mont-Moytie and later renamed Chateau Leoville, were divided numerous times and endured a number of different owners. As a result of a long chain of succession, Chateau Leoville, which was the largest in Medoc in the 18th century, Chateau Leoville Poyferre was born by 1855, the moment when the official classification of Medoc and Sauternes wines was established.

Despite the fact that the local vineyards are the biggest treasure of Saint Julien, for a long time the chateau was struggling and not producing any interesting wine.

Everything changed in 1979 with the arrival of Didier Cuvelier, who set the goal of reaching the quality level capable of finally meeting 2nd Grand Cru class requirements. The vineyards were revamped and the focus shifted to Cabernet Sauvignon; the winery was renovated and upgraded. Professor Emile Peynaud and the famous oenologist Michel Rolland also worked as invited consultants.

At the moment, the chateau produces three amazing wines, harmoniously combining elegance and luxury.

 

Features

The soil of Saint Julien consists of gravel, sand, and clay, and is covered with pebbles. The vineyards extend along a ridge of gravel, providing excellent drainage and a balanced environment for the vines.

Since 1994, the grape has been harvested into small crates. First, the bunches are sorted manually and then one more time using optical benches. The grape collected at each section is vinified separately, in vats of stainless steel, a part of which is double-walled. The vinification process focuses on high quality and achieving sophisticated tannins. Double-walled reservoirs are used for cold maceration, lasting for 6 days. The extraction of color happens gradually and gives the wine pure fruity notes. In the process of barrel selection, the winemakers pay special attention to the ability of oak to extract the most delicate aromas and reach perfect balance. The wine ages in barrels for 18 to 20 months.

The 2008 vintage is a stunning classic of late maturation.
A combination of three factors helped postpone harvesting until early October and allow the grape to reach perfect phenolic ripeness: hard work, the terroir of Saint Julien, and a gentle sun in September.

2008 was an incredible, classic year for late harvesting, the first one since 1983.

 

Taste

The color is dark, almost black. The aroma of the wine is very complex and multi-layered, the taste includes notes of ripe fruits, flowers, spices, toast and wet soil. It is a voluminous and structured wine, with ripe silky tannins and a fantastic, long-lasting aftertaste. This wine soaked up all the benefits a year with a prolonged ripening period could possibly provide. You can treat yourself now, or store it for another decade or two.

Enogastronomic combinations

The wide range and elegance of tasting notes provides complete freedom for your imagination, if of course, you manage to break away from the charm of this wine, which engages you from the very first sip.