| Region | |
|---|---|
| Subregion | France > Bordeaux > Right Bank > Pomerol |
| Colour | Red |
| Type | Still |
The dark ruby-colored 2013 Lafleur (55% Cabernet Franc and 45% Merlot) displays excellent licorice and kirsch notes, medium body, and attractive purity and ripeness in a pretty, mid-weight style. It should drink nicely for 10-15 years.
This vintage's growing season - a cold spring, hot July and stressful September with high humidity with lots of pressure from botrytis forming in the red grapes - resulted in a small crop at Lafleur.
The 2013 Lafleur was one of my favorite wines from barrel because, as Baptiste Guinaudeau remarked when I visited the property, he did not try to make a Pomerol beyond what it could be. The nose might not possess the complexity of the best vintages of Lafleur, but it is clearly delineated and fresh, with blackberry and raspberry fruit, a subtle granitic scent tucked underneath. The palate is medium-bodied with quite firm tannin, as is often the case for Lafleur, with crunchy red berry fruit and a stony, almost reserved but fresh finish that lingers nicely in the mouth. This is an excellent wine considering the growing season.
Very pretty aromas of rose petal, lavender, black cherry and hot stone. Full body, firm and silky tannins and a long and enduring finish. A beautiful red for the vintage. Very Lafleur
After Le Pin, probably Bordeaux's biggest name "cult wine". Tiny production levels and a long pedigree of great quality ensure that collectors fight for an allocation every year despite the high prices. Not tasted by us.
The Lafleur is a blend of 45% Merlot picked on 1 and 2 October, and 55% Cabernet Franc picked on 9 October. Leaving the wine to open up over 5 minutes you can discern a distant marine influence that suffuses the black fruit: small dark cherries and boysenberry. The palate is medium-bodied with very good structure. The tensile tannins are immediately recognizable and as Baptiste mentioned, reminiscent of classic vintages such as 1988, 2001 and 2004. It is a masculine Lafleur, upstanding and perhaps even slightly aloof, but there is great penetration and focus towards the saline finish. If you want a more flamboyant Lafleur then head for the 2009, but if you appreciate a more reserved Lafleur then head here
This is very linear and pure with strawberry and cherry character. It really is the purity that gets you. Full body, with super linear tannins and a bright and racy finish. This focused and refined. Winemaker says that no botrytis was seen in his vineyard giving such wonderful quality.
