2010 Léoville Poyferré

97 POINTS

Neal Martin - Vinous

The 2010 Léoville-Poyferré takes the 2009 and ups the ante with brilliantly defined, intense black fruit. Perhaps it is just a little more "serious" compared to the previous vintage, but is finely chiseled and displaying more mineralité . The palate has mellowed since I last tasted it, developing more rondeur and a more caressing texture. Extremely pure in style, this fans out wonderful, fills the mouth and lingers for a minute. One of the highlights of Didier Cuvelier’s career, this has a long future ahead. "LP" just does not get better than this. Tasted at the Léoville-Poyferré vertical at the château with Sara Lecompte Cuvelier.

97 POINTS

Neal Martin - Vinous

The 2010 Léoville-Poyferré has a very intense bouquet with blackberry, briary cedar and light estuarine/seaweed aromas that are very well defined. Pure class. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grain tannins, layers of pure black fruit laced with pencil lead and a pinch of white pepper. It fans out wonderfully towards the finish, a Saint-Julien demonstrating wonderful density and precision. What an outstanding wine, perhaps less flamboyant than other vintages, one that will last decades. Tasted blind at Farr Vintners 10-Year On Bordeaux horizontal.

97 POINTS

James Suckling

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.

96 POINTS

Gary Walsh - The Wine Front

A second growth from St. Julien. Black fruit, dark chocolate and liquorice, earthy and floral at once, with a low haze of smoky oak. It’s medium to full bodied, fresh and lively, with a superb set of firm but ripe tannin, and sensational length. There’s a charming ‘fresh blackberry and hedgerow’ character to this wine too, which reminds you of where it’s from, whereas some of that nuance gets lost in a fair number of wines from this thumping vintage.

95 POINTS

Neal Martin - Vinous

The 2010 Léoville-Poyferré is blessed with a gorgeous, sensual bouquet with blueberry, cassis, violets and just a hint of cough candy soaring from the glass all with outstanding delineation. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, a fine bead of acidity and quite a toasty, grippy finish. Here I can feel the alcohol more than Léoville Barton or Las Cases, although that is unsurprising given the vintage and address. If you like your Left Bank 2010s on the hedonistic side, this is where to come. Tasted from an ex-château bottle at the BI Wines & Spirits 10-Year On tasting.

95 POINTS

Huon Hooke - The Real Review

A very big, powerful wine with stacks of everything: oak and alcohol not least. The bouquet shows a lot of classy oak, while the palate is superbly fleshy and decadently fruit-sweet. A rich and power-packed wine, albeit served up in a full-on style.

94 POINTS

Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW - Wine Advocate

Deep garnet in color, 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.

Jancis Robinson MW

Quite rich on the nose. Then rather mild and dry on the palate with the tannins quite dominant. Difficult to work out the likely future of this wine. Is it just slightly lacking juice? Or is it well mannered for the future. Here I give it the benefit of the doubt. Just a little sweeter than perfection. Score: 17/20