97 points (18.5/20) La Revue du Vin de France: "...remarkable... (2008)"
96 points Robert Parker: "The spectacular 2003 Leoville Poyferre exhibits a dense purple color with a touch of lightening at the edge as well as notes of creosote, barbecue smoke, jammy black currants, licorice and spice box. This intense, voluptuously textured, full-bodied St.-Julien possesses low acidity and ripe tannin. Still fresh and exuberant, it is just entering its plateau of full maturity where it should remain for 10-15+ years. (Aug 2014)"
96 points Chris Kissack (Winedoctor): "As with its next-door neighbour run by the Bartons, the Cuvelier seem to have been able to take a very challenging vintage and make something wonderful with it. This has a dark and glossy hue at its core, the rim showing a black-cherry pigment, and it still appears very youthful. The nose, like so many of the best 2003s right now, seems explosive, with toasted blackcurrant, black pepper and a sweetly baked blackberry richness, all touched with classical threads of juniper and bay. You will never forget which vintage you are drinking though, as it is that sweetly roasted character that is most prominent here. The palate is imposing, the texture sinewy and savoury, and I find this impressive at the vintage is perhaps more associated with a rather more modern, sweeter profile. The acidity is muted, but there is no shortage of structure, ripe tannins, liquorice and black fruits, with a lightly sappy edge. Ripe yet surprisingly cool, substantial and energetic, this is really impressive. (Dec 2018)"
'Top 100 Wine of 2006 (#17)' and 95 points Wine Spectator: "Pure cassis on the nose. Impressive. Full-bodied, thick and powerful, with loads of fruit and big, velvety tannins. Goes on for minutes on the palate. Huge wine. Very, very impressive. This is one of the big surprises of the vintage. Best after 2012."
95 points James Suckling: "So much blue fruit here, together with mushrooms and dried cherries. Some flowers, too. Full-bodied with dusty, chewy tannins. Velvety. Lots of everything here, in a slightly old-school way. A tiny bit dry on the finish. Drink or hold. (3/2/21)"
95 points Falstaff Guide (3/20/15).
94 points Decanter: "A charming success without the markers of the hot 2003 vintage. Smells really lovely, with that burnt caramel note - cola, sour cherry, some bramble blackcurrant and dried flowers in the background. I love the texture, it's really chewy - tannins, fruit and acidity well integrated and gently mouthfilling. There's minerality on the tongue, soft cinnamon and turmeric spice with blackcurrant and blackberry fruits and a cooling, lifted finish. Excellent expression. A joy to drink now, and perfect with food: a fantastic 2003. 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot. Drink 2022-2036. (2022)"
93.7 points CellarTracker.com community score.
93 points Jane Anson (Inside Bordeaux): "(70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot). A Cabernet Sauvignon dominant blend, this is young, still knittted down but extremely charming, and again very classic, more so than you might expect from a vintage with this heat during the growing season. Plenty of cassis, bilberry, blackberry fruits that are ripe but not overly so, still with texture and juice. Suprisingly fresh with tannic hold along with grilled cedar, cinammon and turmeric spice, not at all what you might expect, and I'm going to call this as one of the best examples of the 2003 vintage that you will be able to find - and clearly having a moment, as this is an upscore from the last time I tasted it. One to open and to enjoy over the next five years but no great rush. Harvest 11 September to 26 September. 80% new oak. Alcohol 13.25%. Drink: 2021-2035. (7/29/21)"
93 points Lisa Perrotti-Brown (The Wine Independent): "The 2003 Leoville Poyferre is medium garnet with a touch of brick. It sashays out of the glass with a beautiful nose of kirsch, raspberry pie, Black Forest cake, and chocolate box plus hints of wilted rose petals, garrigue, fertile loam, and cigar box. Medium to full-bodied, firm, chewy, and savory in the mouth, it has a long, earth-laced finish. Alcohol 13.5%. Drink: 2022-2035. (6/29/22)"
93 points Bettane & Desseauve's Guides to the Wines of France: "Very deep color with a bluish hue, nose typical of very ripe merlot bordering on notes of currants. Powerful, generous, tannic, even a little astringent. Drink: 20f11 up to 2025. (2011)"
93 points Wine Enthusiast: "A huge, opulent wine that packs sweet, rich tannins and spicy fruit. In the midst of all this decadence, though, is a kernel of tannic dryness. This estate, long the weakest of the three Lèoville wines, is now back in top form. (May 2006)"
96 points Robert Parker: "The spectacular 2003 Leoville Poyferre exhibits a dense purple color with a touch of lightening at the edge as well as notes of creosote, barbecue smoke, jammy black currants, licorice and spice box. This intense, voluptuously textured, full-bodied St.-Julien possesses low acidity and ripe tannin. Still fresh and exuberant, it is just entering its plateau of full maturity where it should remain for 10-15+ years. (Aug 2014)"
96 points Chris Kissack (Winedoctor): "As with its next-door neighbour run by the Bartons, the Cuvelier seem to have been able to take a very challenging vintage and make something wonderful with it. This has a dark and glossy hue at its core, the rim showing a black-cherry pigment, and it still appears very youthful. The nose, like so many of the best 2003s right now, seems explosive, with toasted blackcurrant, black pepper and a sweetly baked blackberry richness, all touched with classical threads of juniper and bay. You will never forget which vintage you are drinking though, as it is that sweetly roasted character that is most prominent here. The palate is imposing, the texture sinewy and savoury, and I find this impressive at the vintage is perhaps more associated with a rather more modern, sweeter profile. The acidity is muted, but there is no shortage of structure, ripe tannins, liquorice and black fruits, with a lightly sappy edge. Ripe yet surprisingly cool, substantial and energetic, this is really impressive. (Dec 2018)"
'Top 100 Wine of 2006 (#17)' and 95 points Wine Spectator: "Pure cassis on the nose. Impressive. Full-bodied, thick and powerful, with loads of fruit and big, velvety tannins. Goes on for minutes on the palate. Huge wine. Very, very impressive. This is one of the big surprises of the vintage. Best after 2012."
95 points James Suckling: "So much blue fruit here, together with mushrooms and dried cherries. Some flowers, too. Full-bodied with dusty, chewy tannins. Velvety. Lots of everything here, in a slightly old-school way. A tiny bit dry on the finish. Drink or hold. (3/2/21)"
95 points Falstaff Guide (3/20/15).
94 points Decanter: "A charming success without the markers of the hot 2003 vintage. Smells really lovely, with that burnt caramel note - cola, sour cherry, some bramble blackcurrant and dried flowers in the background. I love the texture, it's really chewy - tannins, fruit and acidity well integrated and gently mouthfilling. There's minerality on the tongue, soft cinnamon and turmeric spice with blackcurrant and blackberry fruits and a cooling, lifted finish. Excellent expression. A joy to drink now, and perfect with food: a fantastic 2003. 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot. Drink 2022-2036. (2022)"
93.7 points CellarTracker.com community score.
93 points Jane Anson (Inside Bordeaux): "(70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot). A Cabernet Sauvignon dominant blend, this is young, still knittted down but extremely charming, and again very classic, more so than you might expect from a vintage with this heat during the growing season. Plenty of cassis, bilberry, blackberry fruits that are ripe but not overly so, still with texture and juice. Suprisingly fresh with tannic hold along with grilled cedar, cinammon and turmeric spice, not at all what you might expect, and I'm going to call this as one of the best examples of the 2003 vintage that you will be able to find - and clearly having a moment, as this is an upscore from the last time I tasted it. One to open and to enjoy over the next five years but no great rush. Harvest 11 September to 26 September. 80% new oak. Alcohol 13.25%. Drink: 2021-2035. (7/29/21)"
93 points Lisa Perrotti-Brown (The Wine Independent): "The 2003 Leoville Poyferre is medium garnet with a touch of brick. It sashays out of the glass with a beautiful nose of kirsch, raspberry pie, Black Forest cake, and chocolate box plus hints of wilted rose petals, garrigue, fertile loam, and cigar box. Medium to full-bodied, firm, chewy, and savory in the mouth, it has a long, earth-laced finish. Alcohol 13.5%. Drink: 2022-2035. (6/29/22)"
93 points Bettane & Desseauve's Guides to the Wines of France: "Very deep color with a bluish hue, nose typical of very ripe merlot bordering on notes of currants. Powerful, generous, tannic, even a little astringent. Drink: 20f11 up to 2025. (2011)"
93 points Wine Enthusiast: "A huge, opulent wine that packs sweet, rich tannins and spicy fruit. In the midst of all this decadence, though, is a kernel of tannic dryness. This estate, long the weakest of the three Lèoville wines, is now back in top form. (May 2006)"
| Product SKU | 346692 |
| Producer | Léoville-Poyferré |
| Country | France |
| Region | Bordeaux |
| SubRegion | Left Bank |
| Appellation | St-Julien |
| Varietal | Cabernet/Bordeaux Blends |
| Vintage | 2003 |
| Size | 1.5L |
| Color | Red |
| ABV | 13.5% |
| Ships To |
