2006 Leoville Poyferre
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Tasting notes
The 2006 Léoville-Poyferré has an impressive Cabernet driven nose, almost Pauillac-like with pencil box and mint aromas infusing the vivacious black fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, very smooth in the mouth although not amazingly complex. Perhaps here it has lost some of its youthful zest, though there is impressive muscle with plenty of cedar-infused red fruit laced with white pepper on the finish. Fine, but where is it going to go? Tasted at the Léoville-Poyferré vertical at the château with Sara Lecompte Cuvelier.
Critic scores
Average Score
Wine Spectator
Robert Parker
More reviews and scores
Great quality, classic but a little less generous at this point in its life than the 2005 that precedes it. Liqourice root, raspberry leaf, smoked earth, cassis, bilberry, all those tight smooth-skinned high-acidity autumn fruits. Great potential, and sings its St Julien tune to perfection but remains a little austere right now. Harvest September 21 to October 7. 80% new oak.
73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Petit Verdot and 21% Merlot. Deep crimson with garnet rim. Lovely, dark, spicy cassis with just a hint of cassis leaf. Dark and very slightly floral. Upright, dry and long-limbed, savoury and dark and long. Tannins are still quite chewy/chalky but rounded and there's good freshness. Some fine cigar-box notes. (JH)
73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot. Deep crimson. Starting to fade at the rim. Sweet, concentrated but spicy nose with some dustiness on the edge of the palate. Really muscular and fine. Long. Beautifully constructed. Luscious enough for current drinking but obviously has masses of potential. Ripe tannins. (JR)
About the producer
Ch. Léoville-Poyferré is a Second Growth Saint-Julien property that was once part of the same estate as Ch. Léoville Barton and Ch. Léoville Las Cases. It has the most complex and varied soils of the three and produces the most voluptuous, seductive style of wine.