Chateau Leoville Poyferre   Leoville Poyferre

1996 Leoville Poyferre

By Chateau Leoville Poyferre

1996 Leoville Poyferre from Chateau Leoville Poyferre, St-Julien, Bordeaux

The 1996 vintage of Bordeaux stands as a testament to the region's ability to produce wines of exemplary structure and longevity. Amongst this distinguished cohort, the 1996 Leoville Poyferre from Chateau Leoville Poyferre emerges with an aura of aristocratic grace, aligning with the estate’s 19th-century classification as a second-growth vineyard.

 

Exquisite Evolution: A Jewel for Investors

The 1996 vintage reveals an intriguing juxtaposition of potency, tempered with elegance – a hallmark of St-Julien’s finest offerings. As a seasoned reviewer, one feels compelled to underscore the exquisite composition of this wine: the au courant investor will recognise its vivid tapestry of dark fruits, cigar box, and anise as the signatures of a maturing claret worthy of attention.

 

Terroir-Inspired Tapestry: St-Julien’s Enigmatic Vintage

The refinement seen in the 1996 vintage owes much to the climatic conditions preceding harvest; a rather balanced season imbued the grapes from Chateau Leoville Poyferre with an impeccable symmetry between acid and tannins. These climactic gifts, so critical in Bordeaux viticulture, are elegantly translated into a wine that courts the palate with layers of complexity yet offers the structure that promises continued evolution in the bottle.

The 1996 Leoville Poyferre presents investors with a consummate balance that speaks to both luxury and longevity. Its skillful blend of Cabernet Sauvignon dominant leadership, emboldened by Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc, reveals a spectrum where each sip provides a new chapter in its storied development.

The prose of time has been kind to the 1996 vintage from Chateau Leoville Poyferre. Such wines truly serve as pillars within an oenophile’s portfolio, enhancing both depth and diversity. Embrace its storied journey as it continues to gracefully meander through maturity - an opulent addition for any discerning investor.

Current market price

£1,360.00

12x75cl

Highest score

93

POP score

104.62

Scores and tasting notes

93

This fabulous 1996 was tasted three times from bottle, and it is unquestionably the finest wine produced by this estate since their blockbuster 1990. Medium to full-bodied, with a saturated black/purple color, the nose offers notes of cedar, jammy black fruits, smoke, truffles, and subtle new oak. In the mouth, there is impressive fruit extraction, a tannic, full-bodied structure, and a classic display of power and finesse. The longer it sat in the glass, the more impressive the wine became. Backward, and massive in terms of its extract and richness, this should prove to be a sensational Leoville-Poyferre for drinking over the next three decades. Anticipated maturity: 2007-2028.

Robert Parker Jr - Wine Advocate #122 April 1999

92

A much deeper colour compared to the 1995. The nose is typical for the vintage: masculine with tobacco, cedar and a touch of tar. Give it time because it has better delineation and focus than the preceding 95. The palate is medium-bodied, firm tannins, drier than the 1995 but better harmony and focus with a lovely sense of natural balance. Masculine, still a little tight but there is good breeding in this wine, the tannins never obtrude on the finish. Drink 2012-2030 Tasted March 2008.

Neal Martin - Wine Journal May 2008

Vintage performance