Chateau Leoville Poyferre 2018

Chateau Leoville Poyferre 2018 is a classified-growth Saint-Julien Bordeaux red blend at 14.5% ABV in a standard 750ml bottle. Awarded a perfect 100 points by Jeb Dunnuck — who named it his #1 Wine of 2021 — this vintage represents a pinnacle for an estate that has been steadily ascending over the past two decades.

Quick Facts: ABV: 14.5%  |  Origin: Saint-Julien, Médoc, Bordeaux, France  |  Vintage: 2018  |  Estate: Château Léoville Poyferré  |  Classification: Deuxième Grand Cru Classé

Production & Heritage

Château Léoville Poyferré is one of three estates that emerged from the historic Léoville vineyard, which was divided during the French Revolution. The 2018 blend is composed of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot, and 3% Cabernet Franc, aged for 18 to 20 months in 80% new oak barriques. The estate employs an innovative underground pipe system to transfer wine from fermentation vats to barrels, eliminating the need for manual transport by tractor and minimizing oxidation and physical disruption to the young wine — a detail that speaks to the meticulous winemaking philosophy at the property.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with concentrated crème de cassis and morello cherry, followed by layers of cedar chest, unsmoked cigar leaf, and violet. A subtle mineral undertone of crushed slate emerges as the wine breathes, adding complexity and a sense of terroir.

Taste: The entry is plush and full, led by blackberry preserve and damson plum. At mid-palate, mocha, dark chocolate, and warm spice build density without heaviness. The tannin structure is firm but remarkably polished, carrying flavors of sassafras and vanilla pod toward a deeply concentrated peak.

Finish: Exceptionally long, with lingering notes of charcoal, warm tar, and roasted applewood that persist for well over a minute. The texture resolves into a fine-grained, chalky minerality that anchors the wine's power with elegance.

How to Drink Leoville Poyferre 2018

Serve at 16–18°C (61–64°F) and decant for at least one to two hours to allow the dense fruit and oak layers to fully open. This is a wine built for contemplative drinking — a generous Bordeaux glass will help concentrate its complex aromatics. While already showing beautifully, it has the structure and balance to age gracefully for 25 to 40 years in a proper cellar.

Food Pairings

The wine's concentrated dark fruit and firm tannic backbone pair naturally with rich, savory dishes. Grilled rack of lamb with rosemary and garlic mirrors its herbal undertones. Braised short ribs with root vegetables complement its depth and mocha richness. Aged Comté or Gruyère cheese echoes the wine's nutty oak character, while roast duck breast with a blackberry reduction amplifies its fruit-forward core. For a simpler pairing, well-marbled ribeye steak with cracked black pepper highlights the wine's spice and structure.

Best For

• Cellaring as a long-term investment — the 100-point score from Jeb Dunnuck and multiple 97-point ratings signal significant aging potential
• Gifting a serious Bordeaux collector or wine enthusiast marking a milestone occasion
• Anchoring a comparative tasting of the three Léoville estates (Poyferré, Las Cases, and Barton)
• Serving as the centerpiece wine at a special dinner or celebration

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Leoville Poyferre 2018 taste like? It delivers deeply concentrated blackberry, cassis, and damson plum layered with mocha, dark chocolate, cedar, and charcoal. The tannins are firm yet polished, supporting a remarkably long, mineral-driven finish.

How does Leoville Poyferre 2018 compare to Leoville Las Cases 2018? Both are top-tier Saint-Julien wines from the same historic vineyard, but Poyferré tends toward a more opulent, fruit-forward style with richer oak integration, while Las Cases is often considered more austere and structured in youth. The 2018 Poyferré's perfect 100-point Jeb Dunnuck score places it among the finest wines of the vintage across all of Bordeaux.

Is Leoville Poyferre 2018 good for drinking now? Yes, it is already expressive with decanting of one to two hours, but its dense tannin structure and concentrated fruit suggest it will continue to develop and improve for decades, with a drinking window extending to 2055 or beyond.

Where is Leoville Poyferre made? Château Léoville Poyferré is located in the Saint-Julien appellation within the Médoc district of Bordeaux, France. Its vineyards sit on prized gravel-topped terraces along the left bank of the Gironde estuary.

What foods pair well with Leoville Poyferre 2018? Grilled lamb rack works beautifully with the wine's herbal and spice notes. Braised short ribs complement its mocha richness, while aged hard cheeses like Comté echo its oak-derived nuttiness. Roast duck with berry sauce amplifies the concentrated fruit, and a simple peppered ribeye highlights the wine's tannic structure.

What sizes does Leoville Poyferre 2018 come in? The standard release is a 750ml bottle, though Bordeaux châteaux typically also produce half bottles (375ml), magnums (1.5L), and occasionally larger formats such as double magnums (3L) and imperials (6L) depending on availability.

Is Leoville Poyferre 2018 worth the price? As a Deuxième Grand Cru Classé with a perfect 100-point score from Jeb Dunnuck and four additional 97-point ratings from major critics, it positions firmly in the premium-to-ultra-premium tier. Among classified-growth Bordeaux with comparable critical acclaim, it often represents stronger value than First Growth estates at significantly higher price points.

Why Leoville Poyferre 2018?

The 2018 vintage is widely regarded as one of the defining wines in the modern history of this estate. Jeb Dunnuck's perfect 100-point score — backed by 97-point ratings from Wine Spectator, Robert Parker Wine Advocate, Vinous, and James Suckling, plus 19 out of 20 from Jancis Robinson — represents a rare critical consensus that places it among the most acclaimed Saint-Julien wines ever produced. Wine Spectator further underscored its stature by ranking it #7 on its Top 100 Wines of 2021 list. For collectors and serious drinkers, the 2018 Poyferré demonstrates what this estate is capable of at its absolute peak — a seamless fusion of power, density, and refined Saint-Julien elegance.