Château Leoville Poyferre 2emé Cru Classé, Saint-Julien, 2010, 75cl

Deep garnet in colour, the 2010 Léoville Poyferré opens with notes of sautéed herbs and pencil shavings on the nose, giving way to scents of redcurrant jelly, baked plums and cedar chest plus a waft of cassis. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has pleasant energy and well-played, lightly chewy tannins with compelling freshness on the finish. - Robert M. Parker Jr., The Wine Advocate

Deep dark ruby, opaque core, purple reflections. Fine oak savouriness on the nose, adorned with sweet dark berry fruit, delicate nougat and liquorice, a hint of candied orange zest. Full-bodied, intense blackberry fruit, firm tannins that are well integrated, dark minerality, chocolate nuances on the finish, taut and youthful, still somewhat unapproachable at the moment, but with good sweetness. A great promise for the future.

Opulent aromas of blackberry, black cherry and orange peel follow through to a full body with round, creamy tannins and a flavorful finish. A big, significant wine that is starting to open and come around. A long life ahead of it. Drink or hold.

A wine of architectural strength and classical proportions, this has straight lines that mark the packed, concentrated fruits, which are sustained by its tannins. This is certainly the best wine that Léoville-Poyferré has produced, sumptuous while so finely structured.

Deep colour, luscious and powerful, has the push and pull of a truly great wine, where you are not exactly sure where you will land but you are fully along for the ride. Brilliant quality, precision, smoke, liquorice, cigar box, cassis, mint leaf etching, rippled with muscle, more Pauillac than St Julien in the 2010 vintage, with decades ahead of it. Great stuff, easily one of the wines of the tasting. 80% new oak. Harvest October 1 to 18.