Château Léoville-Poyferré 2016

Vinum Wine Magazine

La Revue du Vin de France

VertdeVin

The nose is aromatic and it offers power, intensity in control, a powdery side as well as a nice power and freshness. It reveals notes of wild cassis, wild small fruits and more slightly blue plum associated with touches of pepper, nutmeg, lily / violet as well as discreet hints of dried tobacco and an imperceptible hint of saffron. The palate is fruity and offers juiciness, suavity, a nice minerality as well as a nice roundness. This wine expresses notes of juicy / luscious blackberry, juicy / luscious raspberry and more slightly luscious cherry associated with touches of small bright blue fruits, hints of luscious redcurrants, tonka bean, gun flint, of camphor as well as fine hints of lily, violet, cocoa and cinnamon / almond. Tannins are precise, marked, powdery and offer finesse.

Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider

Still, deeply colored, the wine is a bit reticent at the moment and it takes a bit of effort to unfurl before you discover all of its layers of perfectly ripe, deep, rich, lush, polished, black and red fruits. The tannins are ripe, but they need at least 5-7 more years before you find all the softness and natural, supple, opulence enjoyed in the top vintages of Leoville Poyferre. The wine is powerful, long, deep, concentrated, full-bodied, and intense, with a serious depth-of flavor from start to finish. Drink from 2029-2060.

Robert Parker Wine Advocate

Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Léoville Poyferré hits the ground running with intense cassis, violets, dark chocolate, menthol and fragrant earth notions complemented by nuances of cigar box and smoked meats. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is charged with energetic, super intense black fruit and floral layers, beautifully supported with super firm, ripe, grainy tannins and seamless freshness. This liquid is simply alive in the mouth, culminating in an epically long finish that will leave your mouth practically tingling. WOW!

Jeb Dunnuck

Tasted on four separate occasions where this wine rated 97+, 98, 98, and 99, the 2016 Château Léoville-Poyferré is a brilliant bottle of wine and is certainly in the same league as the 2000, 2003, 2009, and 2010. Made from 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot, and the balance Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc, aged in 80% new oak, this brilliantly concentrated, full-bodied, opulent beast of a wine offers a heavenly bouquet of crème de cassis, blackcurrants, smoked earth, tobacco leaf, and ample crushed rocks. It’s certainly one of the most flamboyant and opulent wines in the vintage, yet it remains perfectly balanced, with masses of polished tannins, no hard edges, and a fabulous finish. It will be drinkable in 3-4 years yet keep for 3-4 decades.

James Suckling

Wow. The power and depth to this wine is super with a full , fleshy palate. Yet, it’s so tight and integrated with panache and energy. Chewy tannins, yet seamless and melted into the wine. Extremely long and beautiful. Very polished now. This needs at least five to six years to resolve the steely tannins that run through this wine. Take a look from 2024. A blend of 61 per cent cabernet sauvignon, 27 per cent merlot, eight per cent merlot and four per cent cabernet franc.