Léoville-Poyferré St-Julien 2018

100 points/'#1 Wine of 2021,' Jeb Dunnuck: "Every bit as good as the 2009, and I think better than the 2010 and 2016, the 2018 Château Léoville Poyferré is a total thrill that tops out my scale. Based on 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, its dense purple hue is followed by an incredible, full-bodied monster of a wine that, despite massive amounts of fruit, tannins, and extract, still stays weightless and ethereal, with incredible purity. Loaded with notions of crème de cassis, spring flowers, tobacco, violets, charcoal, and cedar pencil, it's extraordinarily concentrated, flawlessly balanced, and has a finish that won't quit. This is a legendary wine in the making. Give bottles 7-8 years, a decade would be even better, and it will keep for 40-50 years. Hats off to the Cuvelier family for another extraordinary wine! Drink: 2028-2078. (3/11/21)"

97 points/'#7 Top Wine of 2021,' Wine Spectator: "Waves of warmed cassis, mocha and warm tar aromas lead the way, while the core of macerated plum, blackberry and blueberry fruit waits its turn, showing admirable breadth and depth when it arrives, with roasted apple wood, bramble and cast iron buried deeply through the finish. This is a powerfully rendered wine with a cashmere scarf as accent. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Best from 2024 through 2040. (3/31/21)"

97 points Lisa Perrotti-Brown (Wine Advocate): "A blend of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot and 3% Cabernet Franc, aged in 80% new oak barriques, the 2018 Léoville Poyferré comes bounding out of the glass with exuberant scents of Morello cherries, plum preserves and blackberry pie, giving way to nuances of cedar chest, unsmoked cigars, vanilla pod and sassafras, plus a waft of crushed rocks. The palate is full-bodied, rich and decadent, delivering hedonic black fruits and lots of spicy accents with a velvety texture and seamless freshness, finishing long and satisfyingly savory. This is a very impressive showing that is delicious out of the gate but has the backbone to give a good 30 years or more of pleasure. Drink: 2024-2054. (Mar 2021)"

97 points Antonio Galloni (Vinous): "Léoville-Poyferré is sensational in 2018. There's not much more to say than that. A wine of explosive power and intensity, the 2018 dazzles from start to finish. To be sure, the 2018 is racy and opulent, but all the elements come together so effortlessly. Bright red-toned fruit, mocha, pine and wild flowers all open with a bit of coaxing. The new oak is a bit prominent at this stage, but that will be less of an issue over time. Drink: 2028-2043. (Mar 2021)"

97 points James Suckling: "Dark cherry, plum, spice and cacao with earthy notes and wood undertones. Cloves, too. Full-bodied, yet in control and poised. Balanced, complex and flavorful. Firm tannins and a long, precise finish. It goes on and on. Structured is the word. Try after 2025. (3/3/21)"

97 points Chris Kissack (Winedoctor): "Another opportunity to take a look at this wine, which I tasted earlier this year during the course of my first in-bottle tastings of this vintage. The aromatic profile is appropriately intense and richly perfumed, the damson and blackberry fruits laced with slate and dark chocolate, and lifted with little notes of white peach, white freesia, cranberry and white pepper. This is high class and exceedingly stylish. The palate shows a rich and broad texture, but with an equally confident rich and phenolic frame, within which sits the charged fruit of the midpalate. Plenty of tannic grip here, although it remains thoroughly buried within the wine, showing most clearly at the finish. Fabulously long and gripped, very fine despite its intense style with lingering tannic energy, this is a brooding wine of remarkable potential. The declared alcohol is 14.5%. (Oct 2021)"

97 points Lisa Perrotti-Brown (The Wine Independent): "Composed of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot and 3% Cabernet Franc, the 2018 Leoville Poyferre was aged in 80% new oak barriques. Deep garnet-purple colored, it barrels out of the glass with bold notes of prunes, baked black currants and stewed blackberries, plus hints of Chinese five spice, iron ore and wood smoke with a touch of rose oil. Full-bodied, firm, and grainy in the mouth, it features bags of savory and mineral layers among the concentrated, opulent black fruit preserves flavors, finishing with fantastic persistence. Drink: 2024-2054. Alcohol 14.5%. (6/29/22)"

96 points Jane Anson (Decanter): "One of the darkest in colour, with an inky ruby that stains the glass. Even on the nose you feel the texture of this wine. Clear damson and chocolate shavings, cocoa beans and liquorice. This is young and extremely good-quality - straying into gold territory, and will age for ages. Still extremely young, the tannins are multiplying as it stays in the mouth, popping up from all over the place, with a slow slate finish that I love. I couldn't wait to find out what this was. It is one that should be left for 10 to 15 years but has ageing potential. Drinking Window: 2026-2044. (Nov 2020)"

96 points Jane Anson: "(62% Merlot, 33% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Petit Verdot, 2% Cabernet Franc). Concentrated but luscious, has so much character and depth to the fruit, a ton of liqourice, chocolate, blackberry. Smoke and grilled herbs, clear rosemary, tumeric even on the nose. There is higher alcohol than in some vintages, and it leaves a trace, even if a faint one. It needs time - for sure a good decade to really open. Harvest September 20 to October 12. Last tasted November 2020, same score. 80% new oak. First vintage under Sara Lecompte-Cuvelier. Drink: 2027-2048. Alcohol 14.5%. (7/29/21)"

96 points Peter Moser (Falstaff): "Very dark ruby with an opaque core, purple reflections, and a delicate brightening rim. Fine nougat touch on the nose, with a dark forest berry confit background, sweet spices and candied orange zest. Juicy, elegant, ripe cherries on the palate with well-integrated tannins and a touch of chocolate on the finish. This is freshly structured, shows length and harmony, and sure development and ageing potential. Drink: 2025-2050. (2/14/21)"