94pts Wine Enthusiast

The wine is concentrated with tannins that come from both the firm fruit and the wood aging. It is packed with blackberry flavors that come through the structure strongly. The velvet texture (that is just a hint at the moment) is going to bring out the richness of this wine produced with consultation from Michel Rolland. Drink from 2024.

94pts James Suckling

A ripe, generous and substantial wine for this appellation with some real concentration. Plenty of beautiful currant and blackberry character, as well as a solid core of ripe, dusty and velvety tannins and enough acidity to carry the long, savory finish. Slight lean now. Better in 2024.

94pts Decanter

Very deep red. Bold, ripe and fleshy blackcurrant nose steeped in new oak, without being too overbearing. Rich, dense, and flamboyant, very concentrated and intense. Fleshy and forthright, it has a long finish that's spicy and complex.

94pts Jane Anson

Liqourice, smoke, baked earth, graphite, espresso and textured rippled black fruits. The tannins are holding things close to their chest, and this is enjoyable but needs time. A vintage that is generally seen to have been best in this section of the Médoc peninsula, and this is great quaity but needs a few years to open back up. 80% new oak, harvest October 1 to 14.

93pts Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

The 2014 Leoville-Poyferre was surprisingly backward and tight on the nose (usually it is the most expressive and generous Léoville in its youth). The precision and focus is intact, but it is broody and sultry at the moment. The palate is medium-bodied with firm structure, which suggests that it has turned volte face since its opulent showing in barrel. Overall, this comes across as perhaps a slightly more austere and masculine wine from Didier Cuvelier, though that is not a criticism, just an observation. I would like to see a little more persistence on the finish, but the tidings bode well for this mercurial and fascinating Léoville-Poyferre. I can see it improving with bottle age, hence the plus sign against my score.

93pts Wine Spectator

Very pure, with a beautiful beam of violet and plum sauce carried by a chiseled graphite spine. Gorgeous anise and roasted apple wood notes are inlaid seamlessly on the finish. Shows ample grip and drive. Rock-solid. Best from 2020 through 2030.

93pts Jeb Dunnuck

A blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Franc and the balance Petit Verdot that wasn’t harvest until the middle of October (this is later than most), the 2014 Léoville Poyferré is a ripe, concentrated, seriously impressive wine in the vintage that offers more exuberance, texture, and character than most. Crème de cassis, graphite, toasty oak, and hints of tobacco all emerge from this purple colored, pure, medium to full-bodied 2014 that has sweet tannin, beautiful purity of fruit, and a great finish. While it doesn’t have the depth of a truly great vintage, it shines for its balance, texture, and sheer charm. Drink this beauty anytime over the coming 15-20 years.

Winemaker Notes

Deep and bright. The nose is subtle and complex. It reveals notes of red fruit, spices and licorice upon swirling. The attack on the palate is fresh and intense, as well as fruity and fleshy. The finish is supported by fine, racy tannins that are long and integrated, and beautiful volume in the mouth. 2014, a harmonious vintage.

Blend: 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, 2%Petit Verdot

Winery Notes

Due to a division of the large Léoville estate, Chateau Léoville Poyferré was created in 1840 and included as a Second Growth in the famous 1855 Classification. In 1920, the Cuvelier family purchased the estate and Didier Cuvelier has been in charge since 1979.
Major investments were made to bring out the best in the vineyards, and the cellars were also renovated. In 1994, noted consulting oenologist Michel Rolland began to offer his precious winemaking advice. The final blend is made after many careful tastings. Chateau Léoville Poyferré is aged in oak barrels, 75% of which are new every year. It is an extremely well-balanced wine with a great deal of finesse and excellent aging potential.