Chateau Leoville Poyferre 2017

JAMES SUCKLING: "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."

JEB DUNNUCK: "Based on a blend of 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot, the 2017 Chateau Leoville-Poyferre saw malolactic in barrels and spent 18 months in 80% new French oak. Sporting a deep ruby/purple hue, it delivers big, powerful notes of blackberries, blackcurrants, crushed violets, tobacco, and a touch of chocolate. Possessing medium to full-bodied richness, a rounded, opulent texture, and sweet tannins, it’s unquestionably one of the biggest, richest wines in the vintage. Give bottles 4-6 years of bottle age and enjoy over the following 2-3 decades. Tasted twice."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "The wine already displays cassis, herbs, tobacco leaf, espresso and dark chocolate notes. On the palate, the wine is fresh, silky and focuses on its layers of sweet red berries, cocoa, herbs and spice. There is a lot of lift here, along with a crispness in the fruit on the palate and in the finish. Lay this down for at least 6-8 years before pulling a cork."

WINE ENTHUSIAST: "This wine brings balance to the solid tannins and luscious fruits. Firm tannins plus layers of acidity give freshness and great aging ability. The wine has a great future. Drink from 2024. "

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "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."

WEINWISSER: "Granat mit rubinrotem Rand. Tiefgründiges Bouquet mit Pflaumen und Schlehensaft, dahinter zarter Veilchentouch und Virginia-Tabak. Am kräftigen Gaumen mit eleganter Textur, mächtigem, forderndem Tanningerüst und bulligem Körper. Im gebündelten Finale getrocknete Damassinenhaut und frisch zerstossenen schwarzen Pfefferkörnern. Hat durch das Barriquelager eine ungeheure Wandlung erfahren und erinnert aktuell an den kraftvollen 2014er!"

DECANTER: "Slightly earthy notes on the nose, with brambly fruit coming through on the attack. A real sense of lightness and delicacy, with some attractive brushed tannins. Clear precision to the structure of the wine, and it opens up in the glass, allowing the initial austerity to fade as the fruit fattens up in the glass. Lacks the plush concentration of some vintages of Poyferré, but extremely enjoyable and accomplished, with plenty of house style. Take your time, be patient with this one and trust that it will come around a little sooner than the 2016 and 2018."

WINE SPECTATOR: "Warm and rich in feel, with layers of steeped plum, fig and blackberry paste flavors cruising along, framed by cocoa notes and backed by a swath of graphite structure on the tar-tinged finish. Shows a bit more heft than purity, but this is rock-solid nonetheless. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Best from 2023 through 2037."

FALSTAFF: "Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung, feine Brombeerfrucht, zart nach Lakritze und Edelholz, feine Orangenzesten unterlegt. Saftige Kirschen, elegant, feine Tannine, frisch und balanciert, dezente Fruchtsüße im Abgang, charmanter, zart salziger Nachhall, überraschend delikater Stil."

JANCIS ROBINSON: "Deep crimson. Dark, very slightly leafy black fruit, all cassis and cedar, lovely scent and depth of aroma. The oak shows more on the palate than on the nose, with a smooth chocolate-like impression but without unwanted sweetness. Remarkably smooth, pure fruited. Tannins build to become a little more chewy on the finish but still very rounded for such a young wine. May not live as long as some vintages of this wine. Perhaps just a little gentle overall but beautifully balanced."