2022 Chateau Leoville Poyferre Saint-Julien 1.5L (Pre-Arrival)

100 Points, Jeb Dunnuck

"Reminding me of the 2018 (as well as the 2009), if not slightly more concentrated, the 2022 Château Léoville Poyferré is one of the most opulent and flamboyant wines out of the Médoc in 2022, and it has incredible intensity while staying light on its feet and graceful. Its dense, glass-staining purple hue is followed by a sensational perfume of crème de cassis, graphite, darker chocolate, scorched earth, and flowers. Full-bodied on the palate, it brings extravagant levels of fruit as well as a seamless mouthfeel, beautifully integrated oak, tannins, and acidity, no hard edges, and a gorgeous finish. It shines even today, yet it has beautiful underlying structure and will evolve gracefully over the coming 30+ years. The 2022 is based on 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, and 4% each of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, aged 18-20 months in 80% new oak."

96 Points, Vinous

"The 2022 Leoville-Poyferré is super exotic. Dense and pliant with striking mid-palate depth, and exquisite balance, this is pure sensuality. Red cherry, apricot, blood orange, wildflowers and spices all meld together as the 2022 opens in the glass. Seamless, refined tannins extend the mid-palate and finish. The purity of the fruit is remarkable. I also find the new wood imprint-long a signature here-much less evident than in the past. Earlier picking in the Merlot today yields a wine with more red fruit tones than in the past, when Leoville-Poyferré was a darker wine. It will be interesting to see if these are long-term trends. Tasted three times. Stellar." - Antonio Galloni