2016 Léoville-Poyferré, St-Julien

An exceptional vintage, and an exceptional wine, punching in quality at the top of the appellation. Beginning to close down at five years old, the fingers of the tannins are closing in, but the bright succulent berry fruits are fully on display underneath and this has slate, cigar box, graphite, the full St Julien toolbox, precise but unyielding, supremely confident. 80% new oak. Harvest October 5 to 20.

The 2016 Léoville-Poyferré has long been one of the sneaky great buys in all of Bordeaux, especially when you consider the caliber of the vintage, the undeniable terroir, and the off-the-charts quality coming from the estate. Adding ex-château provenance and sharp pricing to the mix is just icing on the cake. Léoville-Poyferré has quietly been crafting some of the finest wines on the Left Bank over the past fifteen years, beginning with their groundbreaking 100-point 2009 and 2010 vintages. The 2016 firmly belongs in that conversation—I’m hardly alone in thinking so, with many critics echoing the sentiment—which makes the current pricing all the more remarkable. Like many wines from the 2016 vintage, Léoville-Poyferré reflects both the excellence of the growing season and a key inflection point in modern Bordeaux, when precision and freshness became central focuses in both vineyard and cellar. On the palate, the fruit leans toward the deeper register typical of St-Julien, yet remains true to its site. Cabernet Sauvignon leads, with cassis and black cherry dancing across the palate, while fine minerality and bright acidity lift the wine and add complexity. The texture is divine, and a long finish reveals a wine just beginning to shed its youthful edges—already harmonious, with the structure to age beautifully for years to come.