Château Léoville-Poyferré: Vineyards
The buildings of Château Léoville-Poyferré sit adjacent to, around and opposite Château Léoville-Las-Cases in the heart of St Julien, although the vineyards are much more parcellated. Perhaps about one-quarter of the vineyards lie to the south of the village of St Julien, the majority of these just to the west of the D2 as it runs northwards from Château Léoville-Barton towards the village, although there are a few other plots scattered about here, including some on the other side of the road, closer to the Gironde, and there is a strip of vines (pictured below) on the other side of the Long as it passes Château Langoa-Barton. About one-half of the vineyards are on the north and west side of the village of St Julien, entirely to the west of the D2 as you head northwards here. Indeed, the first vines on your left (pictured further down the page) as you head in this direction out of the village are all Château Léoville-Poyferré, closely wrapped around the vines of Clos du Marquis. Finally, about a quarter of the vines are further inland, abutting the vines of Château Moulin Riche (which is the location of the cabane pictured on page one of this profile).
Having previously been strong on Merlot, under the direction of Didier Cuvelier many of the vineyards were replanted, now with a focus on Cabernet Sauvignon. In fact, the proportion of the latter variety more than doubled, from 30% to its current figure of 65% (approximately 35 hectares), the balance being 23% Merlot (approximately 17 hectares), 8% Petit Verdot and 4% Cabernet Franc (together approximately 11 hectares), all planted at a density of 8,500 vines per hectare. Along with the program of planting the vineyard expanded, from just 48 hectares in 1979 to its current size of 80 hectares, matching the area committed to the vine during the Belle Epoque, before the 20th century decline took hold.
Please log in to continue reading: