Winemaker and vineyard: Every great story takes root in a particular place, a sort of setting that gives it all its soul. That of Léoville Poyferré is rooted in one of the most intimate communal appellations of the Médoc: Saint-Julien. A true jewel polished by the incessant waves of the Garonne, the soil of Saint-Julien has acquired its nobility over the centuries. Thus, under the impulse of nature, the 920 hectares of the appellation have become so many gardens with multiple profiles, but possessing a common thread: gravel. Proud standard of Saint-Julien, this diversity of gravel soils is at the origin of the richness of our terroir and offers us the most beautiful of palettes to compose our wines. leoville-poyferre.fr

Tasting: "One of the finest over-achieving efforts in this vintage as well as a “best buy” for a top-flight St.-Julien, this 2008 is an irresistible success. It reveals an opaque ruby/purple color, lots of unctuosity and a boatload of sweet cassis and black cherry fruit intertwined with notions of licorice, smoke and oak. Full-bodied, remarkably concentrated and stunningly pure and textured, this sensational wine is already drinking well, and will be even better with 2-3 years of cellaring. It should last for 20-25 years. Bravo!" robertparker.com (02.05.2011)

Service: Serve at room temperature (16-18°C) with rack of lamb.