Revisiting an old friend, 2002 Ch Poyferre

[Gerry M.]

Was home alone tonight and grilled up a nice NY strip and was at a loss as to what to pair with it. I spied an unopened case in the cellar and decided it was time to crack it. Soaring nose of smoke, tar and slight camphor. This is in such a nice spot right now, totally in balance. Tannins are still present but in check, dark fruited and just a total delight to enjoy now.

[JimHow]

Mmm, that's my kind of a wine. Indeed, a BWE wine of the year.
I remember how great it was in its early days... And cheap, too.

[Ognik]

Do you think it is better than 01 LP?

[Gerry M.]

[quote="Ognik"]Do you think it is better than 01 LP?[/

Hopefully Jim might be able to better answer. I've only had it a few times and not in a number of years.

[JimHow]

It is a matter of style.
The 2002 Leoville Poyferre -- which, along with the 2008 Leoville Poyferre, garnered BWE wine of the year honors -- the only estate to accomplish that feat -- hit that St. Julien sweet spot that was so outstanding in 2002, the greatest left bank vintage since at least 1996, perhaps even 1988-89.
The wines of left bank 2002 are classic, low alcohol, structured, polite, modest, cedary, a beautiful combination of wood and fruit that lures you in with restraint and then surprises with a subtle sexiness, a Woodrow Wilson kind of wine.
I'm not surprised to hear that it is performing well at the 16 year mark, Gerry, thanks for the update!

[marcs]

FYI: 2002 is not a better left bank vintage than 2000.

And I like 2002. But Jim is the hot take king.

[stefan]

At BWE-2022 we should have a 2000/2002 left bank blind competition.

[JimHow]

We did that a few years back, Stefan, and 2002 acquitted itself very well.
2002L is a great vintage, it is just not a style that is for everyone.

[stefan]

Sure, Jim, but the 20 year mark is special. 2002 might win this time.

[JimHow]

We'll have to do something spectacular for the 20 year anniversary of BWE....

[Ognik]

Beer tasting....?

[Nicklasss]

We'll have to do something spectacular for the 20 year anniversary of BWE....

14 days in Bordeaux!

Day 1 Montrose
Day 2 Cos d'Estournel
Day 3 Lafite Rothschild
Day 4 Mouton Rothschild
Day 5 Latour
Day 6 Palmer
Day 7 Margaux
Day 8 Haut-Brion
Day 9 La Mission
Day 10 Yquem
Day 11 Petrus
Day 12 Cheval Blanc
Day 13 Ausone
Day 14 Barde-Haut

Nic

[marcs]

Thinking of bringing a 1996-2000-2003 vertical of Poyferre to the BWE bash in DC.

[jckba]

Thinking of bringing a 1996-2000-2003 vertical of Poyferre to the BWE bash in DC.

Marcs, I for one love the wines of Poyferre but for my palate the 2005 is the best wine ever from this estate and you would be remiss not to include it into this mini vertical. RP93 and JC97, I feel like this is one wine that Parker missed the boat on, so let me know how it hits you and if you include it in the lineup, how it fares in the context of wines of the night

[stefan]

2003 Leoville Poyferre is in a good spot now. The bottle Lucie and I drank this past week was excellent.

[robert goulet]

We had the '03 LP last yr at a group dinner... probably the least favorite wine if the night...it was a mess, glad u faired much better.


So '00 vs '02 Bordeaux....hell I may like '01 better...
throw it in there!

[jckba]

2003 Leoville Poyferre is in a good spot now. The bottle Lucie and I drank this past week was excellent.

The 2003 Poyferre has been somewhat variable in my experience, good btls and some not as good and I am talking btls from the same case.