2003 Chateau Leoville Poyferre Saint-Julien

Producer Notes

Chateau Leoville Poyferre was once part of the larger Chateau Leoville and all the Leovilles were classified as second growths in 1855, although only one, Leoville Las Cases, retained that reputation consistently.
Leoville Poyferre’s reputation until the 1980s was not good but has slowly improved with investment in the estate and is now similar to that of its brother Leovilles.
The result of this is that, whilst the wine is up there in quality with Leoville Las Cases and Leoville Barton, vintages since 2000 have often been better value.
The blend is around 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 8% Petit Verdot and 2% Cabernet Franc, which is pretty middling for Saint Julien.
Prior to 2009, Chateau Moulin Riche was effectively the second wine of Leoville Poyferre but that wine is now managed as an independent chateau. The official second wine is called Pavillon de Leoville Poyferre.