Château Léoville Poyferre

Château Léoville Poyferré is a wine estate in the commune of Saint-Julien in Haut-Médoc, north of Bordeaux. In the 1855 classification, it was classified in the second quality grade (cru deuxieme) and is considered the softest of the three Léovilles in terms of style. However, in recent decades the wine, which is dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon, has gained in structure and density.

The estate is located in the heart of the Saint-Julien appellation, with cellars in the village of Saint-Julien-Beychevelle, next to Léoville-Las Cases and north of Langoa-Barton (where Léoville Barton wine is produced). The three Léoville vineyards were once part of the same estate, which was split into three in the middle of the 18th century after the death of the owner.

Léoville Poyferré was named in the 1840s after Baron Jean-Marie de Poyferré, who acquired the estate by marriage. After a series of changes of ownership, including Edouard Lawton (the wolf of his family crest still adorns the Léoville Poyferré insignia), the estate was acquired by the Cuvelier family in 1920.

The 80 hectares of vineyard are planted to 63% Cabernet Sauvignon with 25% Merlot, 7% Petit Verdot and 5% Cabernet Franc. The gravelly soil provides good drainage for the vines, which reduces susceptibility to disease and concentrates the fruit favourably.

In the cellar, the grapes are cold macerated to increase colour extract and aromatic purity. Fermentation takes place at controlled temperatures, in inox tanks. Château Léoville Poyferré is aged in barriques for 18-20 months and the proportion of new oak has increased over the last few decades.