Didier Cuvelier is understandably proud of his 2010 Léoville Poyferré. He describes it as ‘2005, plus, plus’. It is a great wine. There is remarkable purity, concentration and depth on the mid-palate and terrific length. It’s in a more classical style than 2009, overall less knockout than I remember the 2009 was at the same stage but it is extremely good. Overall I tasted it three times last week and marked it between 94-97/100. Either way, lower figure or higher, it will turn out to be a great wine. Chateau Moulin Riche was less fabulous for me than the 2009 here, but it is still a very good wine, not a second wine [that is Pavillon de Poyferré] but an individual 22 hectare terroir in St Julien itself.

The picking here began quite late in comparison to other properties, and six days behind the 2009 harvest. Merlot begins on the first day of October and the Cabernet Sauvignons on October 9 and runs through until October 18. The berries harvest at have never been so small or as concentrated as in 2010, the weight was more than ten percent lower even than 2003. Last year Cuvelier installed 21 new tronconic, double-skinned stainless steel vats with variable capacities which were used for the first time. The wine also benefitted from a 6 day pre-fermentation cold soak.

The following wines were tasted at Chateau Léoville Poyferré on Monday 4^th April 2011 and at the UGC later in the week.

Chateau Léoville Poyferré

Dense and saturated to the rim; very creamy and real ripeness and bold; layered nose, some toast, but mainly cassis and blackcurrants; real density on the palate, concentrated and quite firm, real density to the wine. Lots of extract and density; real chew and length. Maybe stronger and more concentrated than 2009 but less hedonistic and knockout in my book. Excellent never the less. 94-96+/100 [61% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 6% Petite Verdot and 3% Cabernet Franc. 14 alc, IPT 90] Tasted 4April 2011 at Chateau Léoville Poyferré. [Second tasting ]Dense saturated colour; cream, blackcurrant ripeness and intensity – very attractive with freshness; palate very attractive, layered and ripe; density; attractive and tannic; grippy too. Lots of depth and concentration. Very good length. Long term. Length. Excellent 94-96 5^th April 2011 at UGC.[Third tasting] Deep and dense, thick looking; very ripe and clean; lots of fabulous ripeness, good to taste again; very bright and alive; real freshness; lovely creamy wine, strong and full, lots of extract and tannin but lots of blackcurrant fruit. Great mid-palate. Really very good. The leading St Julien here? 95-97+/100 7April 2011 UGC

Chateau Moulin Riche

Deep and dense; very perfumed and intense; very clean; really intense; blackcurrants, very precise; cassis too; dense palate, quite firm; layers, rocks and minerals, dense. Good finish. Should fill out but feels a bit denser than the ’09 but less flamboyant. 88-90+/100 [59% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 11% Petit Verdot 13.5 alc 83 IPT] Tasted at Chateau  Léoville Poyferré 4 April 2011