As ever, our reunion with Michael Schuster had a sequel: a letter.
The distinguished British writer, who used to drive to Bordeaux at the wheel of a classic car, did us the pleasure of tasting our wines at the Church House Tasting in London last week.
Here is what he wrote about Château Léoville Poyferré 2022 and 2025:
Ces deux Léoville Poyferré sont véritablement du niveau des Premiers Grands Crus Classés, à tel point qu’ils rendent désormais les notes chiffrées parfaitement absurdes. Vous savez d’ailleurs que je n’y ai jamais été particulièrement attaché.
“These two Poyferres are really of First Growth quality – to the extent that now really makes a complete nonsense of numerical scores. Which, as you know, I don’t particularly care for anyway.
The 2022 and 2025 are two wines, in completely different styles as expressions of the vineyard and vintage, that are truly wonderful. Complete in every sense: density, definition, fragrance, finesse, class, complexity – overall harmony – stellar articulations of your terroir, your viticulture, your winemaking expertise, your vision.
(…) The 2025 in a somewhat more fine-boned, discreetly aristocratic, particularly ‘thorough-bred’ way, unquestionably a Lafite (if you don’t mind the comparison), whilst the 2022 is a more sumptuous articulation – immediate, generous, ample, utterly seductive and gratifying. A choisir! You couldn’t fit a hairsbreadth between them qualitatively.
Two gorgeously constituted, consummate, graceful, glorious Medocs. Chapeau to the whole team! You will all be most deservedly proud. They were my stars yesterday. So fine, complete, eloquent are they I suspect they will put many of the great vintages of the past, somewhat in the shade.
Very lucky those who will, in due course, enjoy them at full maturity.”
Thank you, Michael, for your loyal support and your generous words. 🙏
