Saint-Julien AOC · 2ème Cru Classé (1855)

Château Léoville-Poyferré 2010

Château Léoville-Poyferré · 2010 · Left Bank Bordeaux blend (Cabernet-dominant)

entering · computed from type + maturity — banded, not measured
St-Julien — revealedSt-Julien · revealed

$174.99 · K&L Wines · ordered 2024-12-12 · sku 1067081

loved

The single standout of everything drunk so far — 'ESPECIALLY the 2010.' The most structured, concentrated bottle of the loved set.

entries reconstructed retroactively, 2026-07-19

critics/consensus

A muscular, near-Pauillac Saint-Julien: crème de cassis and graphite framed by cigar box, smoke, and liquorice, with dense, abundant-yet-polished tannin and a finish that runs on for nearly a minute — the 2010 vintage's power in classical dress.

critics/consensus

Descriptors

click a term to see why it attaches to this wine

fruit
cassispresent in this bottle’s notesclassic for Saint-Julien AOCclassic for Cabernet Sauvignon
blackberrypresent in this bottle’s notesclassic for Saint-Julien AOCclassic for Cabernet Sauvignonclassic for Merlotclassic for Petit Verdot
black cherrypresent in this bottle’s notesclassic for Cabernet Sauvignonclassic for Merlot
floral & herbal
violetpresent in this bottle’s notesclassic for Saint-Julien AOCclassic for Cabernet Sauvignonclassic for Petit Verdotclassic for Cabernet Franc
mintpresent in this bottle’s notesclassic for Cabernet Sauvignon
earth & mineral
graphitepresent in this bottle’s notesclassic for Saint-Julien AOCclassic for Cabernet Sauvignon
wet earthpresent in this bottle’s notes
oak & spice
cedarpresent in this bottle’s notesclassic for Saint-Julien AOCclassic for Cabernet Sauvignonclassic for Cabernet Franc
toastpresent in this bottle’s notesclassic for Saint-Julien AOCclassic for Cabernet Sauvignon
licoricepresent in this bottle’s notes
smokepresent in this bottle’s notesclassic for Petit Verdot
tertiary — with age
tobaccopresent in this bottle’s notesclassic for Saint-Julien AOCclassic for Cabernet Sauvignonclassic for Merlotclassic for Cabernet Franc
cigar boxpresent in this bottle’s notesclassic for Saint-Julien AOCclassic for Cabernet Sauvignon

The vintage

2010 paired a dry season with a cool summer, then sunny, rain-free conditions through August, September, and October with markedly cool nights. Drought stress and the cool nights slowed ripening and thickened skins, giving small, deeply concentrated berries while preserving acidity — a recipe for powerful, deeply structured wines.

A late, structured powerhouse: 2010 Left Bank reds are dense and built on high tannin and high acidity, with immense concentration and decades of ageing potential. In this Léoville-Poyferré the year reads almost Pauillac-like in muscle, yet stays pure and seamless.

Vineyard

Deep Günz gravel over sand, clay, and limestone — warm, free-draining Left Bank terroir.

8,500 vines/ha; mature vines including old Cabernet Sauvignon from the 1940s.

The estate's five core Saint-Julien blocks, the best of them near the D2 (Route du Médoc) where the vines intermingle with Léoville-Las Cases and Léoville-Barton.

In the cellar & winery

Parcel-by-parcel vinification with malolactic conversion in the cellar.

About 18 months in French oak barriques, 80% new (confirmed for 2010).

Made under Didier Cuvelier and consultant Michel Rolland. pH 3.7.

Composition

vintage-specific blend · abv 14%

window 2018–2050 · entering, as of mid-2026Youthful and just entering its plateau (as of mid-2026) — approachable but still coiled, with the structure to age for decades.

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