Two sizeable verticals, one of St-Julien second-growth Ch Léoville Poyferré and one of its sister property Ch Le Crock in St-Estèphe, were tasted in Bordeaux last March with Didier Cuvelier (below), the helmsman of both properties.
The Cuvelier family bought Léoville Poyferré in 1920 from the Lawton family for 1,200,000 (old) French francs but it was not until Didier Cuvelier arrived at the property in 1979 that a Cuvelier was actually in charge of the vineyards – 80 ha (c 200 acres) planted with 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 8% Petit Verdot and 2% Cabernet Franc.
There’s been considerable investment...