1995 $57.99 limited
"Best L?oville Poyferr? ever. Big, mouthpuckering wine. Bubbling over with mint, blackberry and currant character. Full-bodied, with extremely full yet finely textured tannins and a long, silky texture. Try after 2002." 93 The Wine Spectator 1/31/98
"Deep ruby-red. Bright, enticing aromas of redcurrant, minerals and tobacco; not quite as ripe as the '96. Lovely sweetness and clarity of flavor in the mouth. More supple than the '96, and likely to be approachable much earlier. Finishes with substantial, tongue-coating tannins. 90 Steve Tanzer, International Wine Cellar 5/6-98
"While not as backward as the 1996, the opaque purple-colored 1995 is a tannic, unevolved, dense, concentrated wine that will require 8-10 years of cellaring. The 1995 exhibits pain grille, blackcurrant, mineral, and subtle tobacco in its complex yet youthful aromatics. Powerful, dense, concentrated cassis and blueberry flavors might be marginally softer than in the 1996, but there is still plenty of grip and structure to this big wine. Anticipated maturity: 2005-2030." 90 Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #115

1996 $74.99 available
"Deep ruby-red. Expressive aromas of plum, currant, game, woodsmoke and tobacco. Denser and sweeter than the '97 or '98; structured but pliant. Finishes quite long, with dusty, very fine tannins nicely buffered by fruit. 91 Steve Tanzer, International Wine Cellar 5/6-99
"This fabulous 1996 was tasted three times from bottle, and it is unquestionably the finest wine produced by this estate since their blockbuster 1990. Medium to full-bodied, with a saturated black/purple color, the nose offers notes of cedar, jammy black fruits, smoke, truffles, and subtle new oak. In the mouth, there is impressive fruit extraction, a tannic, full-bodied structure, and a classic display of power and finesse. The longer it sat in the glass, the more impressive the wine became. Backward, and massive in terms of its extract and richness, this should prove to be a sensational Leoville-Poyferre for drinking over the next three decades. Anticipated maturity: 2007-2028." 93 Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #122

1998 $59.99 available
"Well done. Aromas of black truffles and ripe fruit introducing a full-bodied wine with lots of fruit and velvety tannins. A mouthful. Amazing for the vintage in the M?doc. Best after 2006. Spectator Selection." 91 The Wine Spectator 1/31/01
"Bright ruby-red. Pungent aromas of blueberry, black cherry, minerals, mint and spicy oak. Intensely fruity and nicely focused. Not fat but juicy, precise and ripe. Conveys a stronger impression of backbone than the '99, and seems clearly longer on the finish. Tannins are quite firm but not hard. Cuvelier described this wine as a bit rigid, but I find enough fruit here to support the structure. 89-90 Steve Tanzer, International Wine Cellar 5/6-00
"Smoky, roasted herb, and black currant aromas emerge from this dense ruby/purple-colored, very good to excellent 1998. There is fine ripeness and moderately high tannin, as well as a better mid-palate and finish than it exhibited last year. It is a fine effort with sweet, well-balanced tannin. Anticipated maturity: 2005-2015." Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #128

1999 $44.99 available
"A top-flight effort, Leoville-Poyferre's 1999 exhibits a dense black/purple color as well as super-rich black cherry and cassis fruit intermixed with minerals, toast, and vanillin. Fat in the mid-palate, with outstanding concentration, purity, and balance, this alluring, concentrated, impeccably made, delicious 1999 will drink well young, and last for 15+ years. Anticipated maturity: 2002-2018." 90-92 Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #128

Soils of Leoville Poyferre