The 2021 Léoville-Poyferre Bordeaux Blend from the St Julien sub-region in Bordeaux, France, is a red wine that has garnered attention from several esteemed wine reviewers. This wine, produced by Leoville-Poyferre, features a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Petit Verdot, and is sealed with a cork closure. It has an alcohol content of 13.0%.
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, reviewed by William Kelley, awarded the wine a score of 92, noting its "minty berries, dark berry compote, pencil shavings and toasty oak." Kelley described the palate as "medium to full-bodied, deep and dense," with sweet tannins asserting themselves on the finish. He recommended patience for this wine to develop further.
Jane Anson gave the wine an excellent score of 95, praising its "vivid plum colour" and "carefully balanced" extraction. Anson highlighted the blend’s flavors of "cloves, sage and white pepper spice, blueberry fruit, with coffee and cocoa bean," and pointed out its "silky tannins" and good aging potential. She remarked that it is "one of the wines of the vintage" and advised laying it down for aging.
Jeff Leve of TheWineCellarInsider.com scored the wine 94, describing an aromatic profile of "licorice, tobacco leaf, chocolate, espresso, black cherries and smoked peppery notes." Leve emphasized the wine's "soft, polished, fresh, elegant and fruity" palate with a "creamy-texture to the finish."
Jeb Dunnuck also scored the wine 94, noting its "serious, concentrated, inward style" with "impressive red and black currant-like fruit." He mentioned additional notes of "graphite, smoked tobacco, spicy oak, and chocolate," and predicted it would evolve well over the next two decades.
James Suckling's review, penned by Zekun Shuai, awarded a high score of 96, lauding its "excellent depth and complexity" and "modern touch of cocoa powder." Shuai highlighted the wine's "full-bodied palate" with "fresh, vertical tannins" and a "flavorful, persistent finish." He recommended drinking it now or holding it for further aging.
Decanter also rated the wine 95, appreciating its "beautifully fragranced" nose and "floral-edged ripe bramble fruits." The review noted the wine's "layers of flavour" and "mineral grip," calling it "complex and sensuous" with "real class."
Finally, Antonio Galloni of Vinous gave the wine a stellar score of 96, describing it as "fabulous" and "surprisingly rich." Galloni noted the wine's "notable depth," "exotic, perfumed quality," and "fleshy and expressive" palate. He observed that while there is some new oak to integrate, the wine is "impeccably balanced."
Overall, the 2021 Léoville-Poyferre has received high praise for its depth, complexity, and aging potential, with several reviewers highlighting its standout qualities in the 2021 vintage.