Lafleur

Tasting Notes:
A dense ruby/purple color precedes a still monolithic, closed wine with huge tannins as well as massive extract and richness. At this tasting, the 2005 Lafleur was not singing at the profound level I had expected. The classic licorice, kirsch, and truffle notes are evident, and the wine is full-bodied and powerful, but also broodingly backward and nearly inaccessible. It should turn out to be a treasure after 10-15 years of cellaring, and it will keep for 4-5 decades. The Wine Advocate #170 Apr-07.
Parker Points: 95
Drinking Period: 2017-2057

Tasting Notes:
Sadly, there are only 1,000 cases of the brilliant 2004 Lafleur (because of the strict selection implemented by proprietor Jacques Guinaudeau and his son, Baptiste). A blend of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc, the 2004 presently possesses a certain austerity, along with fabulous concentration, and intense kirsch liqueur, licorice, truffle, and spice characteristics. Stunningly proportioned, medium to full-bodied, and powerful, it comes across like a modern day version of LafleurÕs brilliant 1979. The aromatics can fill a room, but the tannins kick in in the mouth. Give this Pomerol 5-8 years of cellaring, and drink it over the following 25+. Wine Advocate # 171 Jun 2007
Parker Points: 94
Drinking Period: 2012-2037

Tasting Notes:
Performing slightly less impressively from bottle than it did from cask, this wineÕs Cabernet Franc element has come forward, revealing a distinctive herbal, bell pepper, vegetal character that kept my score from going higher. Nevertheless, there is plenty to like about this 2001 Pomerol. It possesses a saturated ruby/purple color, powerful aromas (kirsch liqueur, raspberries, and blackberries), an earthy, muscular, chunky character, and the most tannic personality of any Pomerol I tasted. While not the huge blockbuster Lafleur can often produce, it is well-built. Robert Parker- Wine Advocate
Parker Points: 92
Drinking Period: 2009-2019

Tasting Notes:
This wine is a brilliant success, it is one of the stars of the vintage. Lafleur's 1999 is atypically powerful and concentrated, with an inky, saturated purple color followed by a sensational nose of black cherry jam intermixed with liquid minerals, raspberries, and licorice. It is super concentrated, extraordinarily pure, with moderately high tannin. This dense, powerful, impressively endowed wine should turn out to be a classic for Lafleur. Robert Parker- Wine Advocate
Parker Points: 93
Drinking Period: 2008-2025

Tasting Notes:
I believe the 1985 Lafleur is a far bigger wine than the 1985 Petrus. It possesses a tight but promising bouquet of ripe plums, black-cherries, minerals, tea, and spices. Deep ruby/purple, with an exceptional richness and depth of fruit, full body, and a powerful, long, tannic finish, this wine is completely closed, even monolithic and muted. It is evolving much more slowly than I predicted. Robert Parker Wine Advocate
Parker Points: 93
Drinking Period: 2000-2020

Tasting Notes:
96 points. This wine is finally beginning to live up to my proselytization. Over the last several years, it has begun to reveal its extraordinary richness. The wine's fragrance of quintessential black-cherry jam must be smelled to be believed. It is completely different than the thick, tannic, colossal 1975 or mammothly constituted wines of 1985, 1988, 1989, and 1990. The vintage that comes closest to resembling the 1982 is the 1990. The over-ripe, cherry liqueur character of the bouquet is unmistakable. The wine possesses a dark ruby color, and a fabulous, exotic nose of incense combined with cherry jam. Thick, alcoholic flavors filled with glycerin and extract border on the surreal. Add a dosage of orange marmalade, soy, and juicy black cherry and plum-like fruit and, yes, the 1982 Lafleur is at your service. This thick, exotically-flavored wine is almost too intense and idiosyncratic for most tasters. But, wow, what a persuasive case for old vine Merlot and Cabernet Franc. This wine was actually softer 10 years ago, but it has taken on more grip and tannin with age. I would never hesitate to drink a bottle now, but it will undoubtedly become even better over the next 5-10 years. It should last through the first two decades of the next century . Tasted 16 times since bottling with consistent notes. Robert Parker - The Wine Advocate 12/95.
Parker Points:  -
Drinking Period:  -