2016 Chateau Leoville Poyferre 'Pavillon de Poyferre', Saint-Julien, France (750ml)

TASTING NOTES: Relatively closed right now, as are all the St-Juliens, this takes time to open in the glass but does so to reveal lots of northern Médoc character in the liquorice and brambly fruit puree, with touches of caramel and sweet cassis. It's hewn out of slate boulders with layers of tannin - a lovely construction that's deepened even further during ageing. 2% Cabernet Franc finishes the blend. Matured in 80% new oak. Michel Rolland consults. - Decanter, 98 pts.  Wow. The power and depth to this wine is super with a full and fleshy palate, yet so tight and integrated with panache and energy. Chewy tannins yet seamless and melted in the wine. Extremely long and beautiful. This needs at least five to six years to resolve the steely tannins that run through this wine. Take a look from 2024. A blend of 61 per cent cabernet sauvignon, 27 per cent merlot, eight per cent merlot and four per cent cabernet franc. - James Suckling, 97 pts.  Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Léoville