Leoville Poyferre, Saint-Julien 2019

Region: Saint-Julien, Bordeaux

67% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot.

THE CUVELIER ETHOS –  A free spirit, a singular identity

The Cuvelier Family has always been driven by two ambitions, those of pioneers and builders. Visionaries, they also longed to be producers, building upon their already well established business as Wine Merchants in the North of France. Chateau Le Crock was the ouverture at the beginning of the 20th century, closely followed by Chateau Léoville Poyferré and Chateau Moulin Riche in 1920. Their sights stretched as far as the Argentine horizon, where they established a vineyard “from the ground up” towards the end of the century, Cuvelier Los Andes. Throughout the years, each generation has contributed to the family’s tradition of making great, yet accessible wines.

Press reviews

The Wine Doctor – Chris Kissack : 97

“Tasted alongside the 2018 vintage, many 2019s are identifiable by their slightly less dense concentration in the glass, although that does not seem to be the case here! It is as good as opaque in the glass, and the nose is loaded with a correspondingly intense array of sweet fruits, all cranberry and blackcurrant, dusted with crushed chalk and vanilla flower. The palate is unsurprisingly brooding at this early stage, with a dense and medium-bodied presence through the middle, the fruit here wrapped up in warm but ripe and tightly compacted tannins. Smartly integrated, this has an impressively long and opulent finish. A more traditional grip and a perhaps also a little more balance than the 2018 vintage. Great potential though. The declared alcohol is 13%.”

The Wine Advocate – Lisa Perotti-Brown : 95+

“Casting a deep garnet-purple color, the 2019 Léoville Poyferré charges out of the gate with alluring notes of chocolate-covered cherries, blueberry pie, dried mulberries and blackcurrant cordial plus suggestions of camphor, espresso, spice cake and oolong tea. The medium to full-bodied palate reveals bags of freshness and a suitably approachable texture, supporting the decadent blackberry preserves and exotic spice layers, finishing on a stewed tea note. An already incredibly impressive wine, I imagine by the end of barrel aging the tannins will be fully brought into line here and the fruit will emerge singing of even more nuances.”

Jancis Robinson : 17+
“Very dark purple. Extremely lively nose with an admirable combination of ripeness and freshness. Smooth as a baby’s bottom! Until the charge of dry tannin on the very end. Pretty impressive. A touch inky on the end, but with luscious fruit leading up to that. “

Soils
Terraces of Mindel gravel, sandy-clay subsoil. Harvest Dates 20th September to 11th October