The 2010 Léoville-Poyferré, a Bordeaux blend from the St. Julien region in Bordeaux, France, is a standout vintage that has garnered high praise from wine critics. This red wine, produced by Léoville-Poyferré, is known for its complexity and exceptional aging potential.
Neal Martin from Vinous describes it as having "brilliantly defined, intense black fruit" and praises its "finely chiseled" character with a long future ahead. Alex Shaw of JJ Buckley gives it an impressive 99 points, commending its "dark and brooding nose" and labeling it "a star of the vintage." Shaw also highlights its composition of 61% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, and 6% Petit Verdot, which contributes to its structure and elegance.
Jeb Dunnuck awards it a perfect 100 points, describing it as "pure gold" with "an incredible array of crème de cassis, graphite, damp earth, and leafy tobacco." Dunnuck emphasizes its balance, purity, and opulence, noting that it has another 40-50 years of prime drinking ahead. Wine Enthusiast also gives it a near-perfect score of 98, praising its "architectural strength" and "sumptuous" nature.
James Suckling comments on its "opulent aromas of blackberry, black cherry, and orange peel," while Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate notes its "deep garnet color" and "pleasant energy" with a finish that offers "compelling freshness."
Overall, the 2010 Léoville-Poyferré is lauded for its depth, structure, and seamless integration of flavors. It is a wine that promises a long life, with many reviewers suggesting it is still in its early drinking plateau. As Jane Anson notes, it combines the "generosity of Poyferré with the slow steely progression of the vintage," making it a brilliant example of its kind.