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.
100 points, Jeb Dunnuck (Feb 2025)
A mind-blowing Leoville Poyferre, probably one of the best for a long time. Huge depth and structure, showing a deep matrix of fruit full of fresh blackberries and a dash of ink and lead pencil. Such verticality on the full-bodied palate with beautiful balance and a clear finish that goes on and on for more than a minute. Great potential ahead. This was tasted at the UCGB tasting and was one of the best wines of the day. Drink after 2028. It should improve in the next 10 to 15 years.
99 points, Zekun Shuai, James Suckling (Jan 2025)
Intense, powerful, delicious, creamy raspberry and black cherry fruits, textured and confident in its tannic grip, with a freshness that runs from opening to close of play. Underlines just how well St Julien delivered in 2022. Sara Lecompte-Cuvelier director and co-owner.
98 points, Jane Anson (Mar 2025)
The 2022 Léoville-Poyferré is a blend of 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot and 4% Cabernet Franc, and the élevage was 18 to 20 months in 80% new oak. A smoky, brooding nose here, with dense layers of damson, currant and blackberry fruit, perfumed with rose petal, white peach, orange and mint, very defined and pure, and clearly elevated several steps above the rest of the Cuvelier range (which includes Moulin Riche and Le Crock as well as the Poyferré second wine). The palate shows a rather accessible charm compared to the wine from Léoville-Barton, perhaps the effect of the Merlot showing though, being dark, dense and brooding yet texturally accessible, with layers of olive, blackberry, tar and black pepper set over a very tightly knit and finely pointed core of tannin. This is just delightful, with fabulous ripeness and substance, with wonderfully dark fruit, and an integrated structure which demands a decade or two of cellar time. A superb wine with a long, lingering core of tannin;a wine which buyers may well end up leaving to their children. Or grandchildren. Remarkable. Tasted five times. The alcohol on the label is 14%.
98 points, Chris Kissack, Wine Independent (Jun 2025)
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