2003 Leoville Poyferre
By Chateau Leoville Poyferre
2003 Leoville Poyferre from Chateau Leoville Poyferre, St-Julien, Bordeaux
The 2003 Leoville Poyferre stands as a testament to the resilience and artistry of the winemakers at Chateau Leoville Poyferre. This vintage, emboldened by the exceptionally hot summer that swept across Europe in 2003, is both a marvel of nature and skill. The alchemy of heat and harvesting has birthed a sumptuous blend that defies the challenges of an overbearingly warm season.
A Vintage Rescued From the Sun
The climatic conditions of 2003 were testing for vineyards throughout Bordeaux. Yet, it is under such extremes that the mettle of a chateau's winegrowing acumen is revealed. Chateau Leoville Poyferre harnessed this fierce vintage to produce an offering that merges the quintessential robustness of St-Julien with an unexpected grace.
In the glass, the 2003 Leoville Poyferre exudes a rich garnet hue with a nose redolent of ripe blackberries, alongside an earthy minerality distinctive to St-Julien terroir. The palate is captivating, presenting opulent layers of cassis, smoky oak, and spices. With decanting, the tannins unfold elegantly, revealing a structure that is admirably seamless.
Finessing the Fierce: A Profound Complexity
The influence of the scorching summer manifests through powerful concentration and an intensity that one might wrongfully assume could overpower. However, this wine is characterised by its balance and depth. Tertiary notes of tobacco and leather are developing beautifully, suggesting not just a triumph in adversity but a crafted lineage to investment-worthy aging potential.
For connoisseurs and investors alike, the 2003 Leoville Poyferre presents a compelling narrative—a wine sculpted by nature's extremes and composed by human precision. It is an eloquent addition to any serious collection; an emblematic vintage that continues to unfurl its tale through each savoured sip. Its resilience reflected on both market stability and palate; it remains one of St-Julien’s most remarkable achievements of the early millennium.
Market price (GBP)
£1,100.00
12x75cl
Highest score
98
POP score
61.11
Scores and tasting notes
I have had this wine three times out of bottle, rating it 97 once and 98 twice. It is a colossal success and a potential legend in the making. Its saturated, dense inky/blue/purple color offers up notes of crushed rocks, acacia flowers, blueberries, black raspberries, and creme de cassis. A synthesis of power and elegance, this multi-layered wine has spectacular concentration, sweet but high tannin, and low acidity A stunning effort that showcases this legendary terroir, it is a brilliant, brilliant success. The quintessential Leoville Poyferre? Anticipated maturity: 2009-2030.
Robert Parker Jr - Wine Advocate #164 April 2006
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.
Robert Parker Jr - The Wine Advocate, 27 August 2014
I love the rich and opulent nose to this with flowers, plums and currants. Full and powerful with great freshness and balance. Still a little tight, yet dense and intense. Wonderful wine through and through. Leave it alone for five or six years still. Pull the cork after 2016.
James Suckling - jamessuckling.com, May 29th 2012
Tasted at Bordeaux Index's "10-Year On" tasting in London. The Poyferre -03 offers an exuberant bouquet that is clearly more ostentatious and perhaps vigorous than the Barton - black cherries, cassis, a hint of Bovril and bay leaf. The palate is medium-bodied with ripe and grippy but succulent tannins. There are layers of black toasty fruit infused with white pepper, cedar and graphite. The finish is nicely composed and is becoming more -classic- in style compared to previous encounters. This is promising - watch out for this in five years time. Tasted March 2013.
Neal Martin - Wine Journal May 2013