Château Léoville Poyferré Saint-Julien 2003

Robert Parker : 98 points
"I have had this wine three times out of bottle, rating it 97 once and 98 twice. It is a colossal success and a potential legend in the making. Its saturated, dense inky/blue/purple color offers up notes of crushed rocks, acacia flowers, blueberries, black raspberries, and creme de cassis. A synthesis of power and elegance, this multi-layered wine has spectacular concentration, sweet but high tannin, and low acidity A stunning effort that showcases this legendary terroir, it is a brilliant, brilliant success. The quintessential Leoville Poyferre? Anticipated maturity: 2009-2030." (Apr 2006)

Wine Spectator : 95 points
"Pure cassis on the nose. Impressive. Full-bodied, thick and powerful, withloads of fruit and big, velvety tannins. Goes on for minutes on the palate. Huge wine. Very, very impressive. This is one of the big surprises of the vintage. Best after 2012." (Mar 2006)

Stephen Tanzer : 92 points
"Medium ruby-red. Extravagant aromas of currant, loam, leather and graphite; like the 1990 in its roasted character. Then sweet and dense but with surprising aromatic lift in the mouth, not to mention considerable power. Liqueur-like black fruit, licorice and mineral flavors really stain the palate. Cuvelier maintained that this vintage was not acidified. The cabernet acidity, he said, was healthy and the grape skins gave up their acidity slowly during the vinification. A very impressive showing, and built to last." (Jun 2006)

Bettane et Desseauve : 17/20
"Robe bleutée très dense, grand nez de vendange très mûre de merlot au bord du raisin de Corinthe, ample, tannique, un peu astringent même." (2008)

RVF : 18/20 (2005)