March 16, 2024 - Dark aromas for a St. Julien. Aromas of dark berries, farmyard, smoke and rusty iron, like in a Pessac. Dense and powerful on the palate, with pronounced tannins.
February 18, 2024 - Opaque ruby, animal, barnyard, sweet notes, undergrowth some menthol, mushrooms, spicey, basically everything we love about aged Bordeaux is in here. Silky tannins. This is ready to go, simply amazing. Will easily hold another decade.
February 10, 2024 - Compared to the 95, the acidity of the 96 stands out. Because of the acidity but the wine has a more lively, fresh and energetic character. The 96 is probably perfect for a pairing with a proper dish.
February 4, 2024 - Château Léoville Poyferré - Saint-Julien 1996
Lots of dark fruit, cassis and blackcurrant. (lots of) Leather and Forrest floor. Still more than enough acidity and nice chewy tannins. Love the long aftertaste, it lingers for more than 30 seconds. At its peak with some more years to go.
January 27, 2024 - CdB BoG; 1/25/2024-1/27/2024 (Denver): Loving the 1996 vintage right now. No formal notes but drinking great, full of fruit, smooth but present tannins. Yum.
December 24, 2023 - Perfect drinking window. Tannins are all softened, plum, jammy berries, leather, classic Bordeaux.
October 21, 2023 - Day 2 after Coravin. A dark burgundy color, almost no bricking. Nose is big, but of stewed prunes, green pepper, mint, cedar. In the mouth, high acidity, with hint of sourness. Not tannic. Long finish. I want to like this more but it has a sour tartness that is a little off-putting. Pairs well with a warm turkey and cheese hoagie.
September 28, 2023 - Classic aged Bordeaux, in a good way. After 2 hour decant the nose was lifted, on the palate the wine had a coolish entry with high notes and then a strong lasting slightly spicy finish. Agree with prior tasting notes below including green peppers and cedar etc. I would however describe the stewed fruits more as tamarillo flavour . I think this wine has a long life ahead but also at a very good drinking window.
September 24, 2023 - Chateau Leoville Poyferre 1996
Color: ruby red, pristine. One would think this wine is 5 years old.
First nose: cedar or mint.
Then barnyard. Now green pepper 🫑 followed by a whiff of Montreal steak spice. Barnyard comes and goes, as does the cedar.
Pallet at the onset is lean and muscular but tannic and austere. Needs air.
Double decant. Cedar on the nose.
Nose is not primary, there are virtually no fruits here, but not tertiary either. Cedar, spice, green pepper, ground black pepper, graphite (led pencil HB #3 ).
Palate oscillates between tannic and smooth, eventually becomes softer as one would expect from a St-Ju. But lacking a bit of follow-through on the finish.
Pallet now showing stewed red fruits and berries as I close it up and leave 1/3 for tomorrow.
A good showing, needed more air or cellar time. 93.
September 10, 2023 - Nose of saddle leather, tobacco, dried earth, dried cherry, and wood.
Full body, med acid, med tannin.
This is signing. Much better bottle than last time. Texturally lovely and plenty of life left. Enjoy over the next 10 years max.