Second Classified Growth in 1855, located in the prestigious appellation of Saint-Julien.
Born from 80 hectares of exceptional terroir and the ancestral savoir-faire of our teams, nurtured by the Cuvelier Family since 1920.
Nothing tells a greater story than a bottle of wine. The vines take root in the soils providing the immutable backdrop, endowing the wines with their unique qualities. Léoville Poyferré is anchored in one of the most intimate appellations of the Médoc: Saint-Julien.
Scattered across the appellation as far as the eye can see, like stars pebbling the evening sky, the secrets of Saint-Julien are held within their most precious gems: graves . Carried along by the alluvial deposit, these stones were polished by the Gironde as it formed the iconic Estuary that divides the viticultural landscape of Bordeaux.
The 920 hectares of the appellation have become a collection of manicured gardens that provide a myriad of attributes. They are the wealth of our terroir, and offer us the most beautiful pallet with which to compose our wines.
The Vineyard - Dispersed over 80 hectares of Saint-Julien and split into several groups, our vineyard reflects all the richness and diversity of the appellation. Within this, to the northwest of the appellation, are the 20 hectares of Chateau Moulin Riche, forming a single block for a unique expression of the terroir.
Terroirs - Terraces of Mindel gravel, sandy-clay subsoil
Planted Grape Varieties - 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 7% Petit Verdot, 5% Cabernet Franc
Once the grapes arrive at the vat house, they are sorted twice: first by hand on tables before destemming, then a second time by optical sorting machine before crushing to eliminate any vegetal matter. In order to appreciate and make the most of the diversity of our vineyard, vinifications are carried out plot-by-plot and by grape variety in the 57 thermo-regulated stainless steel tanks, of which 27 are double-walled. These 27 tanks allow pre-fermentation cold macerations that generally last about a week. This technique enhances the purity of the fruit aromas and the intensity of the color. To further protect this “red gold”, the property adopted a new bio-protection system in 2018: non-saccharomyces yeast is added to the must, thus eliminating the traditional use of SO2 at this stage .
Pump-overs are carried out daily for each of our tanks until the end of alcoholic fermentation. Day after day, this transformation of sugar into alcohol is guided by Château Oenologist Isabelle Davin and Cellar Master Didier Thomann until each tank reaches its full aromatic potential. Temperature, duration of extraction, quantity of oxygen, and frequency of pump-overs are the decisive parameters that will be guided by their masterful touch.
Once the vinifications have finished and the wines run off from their skins, the ultimate metamorphosis occurs: grape skins are pressed to obtain the “press wine”, the final expression of a wine's power. The wood can now envelope this superb libation, and carry it to its destiny. Our wines are aged exclusively in French oak barrels for 18 months. Particular care is taken in the choice of our barrels to obtain subtle oak aromas in harmony with the Léoville Poyferré style.
A perfect osmosis between the wood and the wine must occur. In order for this to happen, wines undergo their malolactic fermentation in barrel, resulting in the stability and suppleness of our wines.
A crucial step in the creation of our wine is blending, our winemaking team's quest for the perfect harmony. Our different plots of vines, each with their own personality, are like notes of music with which to compose a beautiful melody. This union gives birth to a symphony, the veritable spirit of Château Léoville Poyferré.
