The 2022 Léoville-Poyferré from the Bordeaux region of France is a highly praised Bordeaux blend, composed of 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, and 4% Petit Verdot. This wine, produced by Leoville-Poyferre in the St Julien sub-region, has garnered exceptional reviews from multiple professional reviewers.
Jeff Leve from TheWineCellarInsider.com awarded it a score of 99 points, noting its deep color and complex nose, which features "black cherries, currants, licorice, tobacco leaf, cassis, and an array of spices." He describes the palate as offering "layers of silky, fresh, pure, deep red berries," adding that the wine is "dense, concentrated, sweet, ripe, fresh, and polished." Leve emphasizes the wine's purity and ease of drinking, calling it a blend that exudes "sensuality and complexity from start to finish."
Jeb Dunnuck was particularly impressed, giving it a perfect score of 100 points. Dunnuck highlights the wine's "inky hued beauty" and "rare mix of power and elegance." He notes the wine's "full-bodied richness, an opulent, concentrated, yet flawlessly balanced mouthfeel" with "velvety tannins" and "plenty of classic Saint-Julien violets, espresso roast, and crushed stone-like minerality." Dunnuck commends the Cuvelier family and their team for producing such a powerful and intense wine in a region often focused on finesse and elegance.
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, through William Kelley, awarded it 96 points, mentioning the wine's "aromas of crème de cassis, cherries, violets and creamy new oak." Kelley describes the palate as "rich and fleshy" with "supple tannins and a long, vanillin-inflected finish." He also notes the early picking of Merlot and the absence of saignée, emphasizing the natural concentration of the vintage.
James Suckling gave the wine 97 points, describing it as having a "black berry, blackcurrant, crushed stone and lavender character." Suckling praises its structure, noting it as "full and really well structured with a linear length to it."
Jane Anson also rated it 96 points, calling attention to its "dense and succulent fruit and tannins" and "muscular tannins shot through with salted caramel sweetness." She describes it as "accomplished" and "impressive."
Neal Martin from Vinous gave a score of 97 points, referring to it as "quintessentially LP on the nose" with "extravagant and sensual black and blueberry fruit, intermingling with crushed violet and iris."
Decanter and The Wine Independent also provided high scores of 96 and 98 points respectively, with Decanter noting its "supple, lively, fresh and round" character and The Wine Independent highlighting its "rich, plush, and impactful" palate with "beautiful tension and very respectable, fine-grained tannins."
Overall, the 2022 Léoville-Poyferré is a highly esteemed wine, praised for its complexity, balance, and depth, making it a standout in the Bordeaux wine offerings.