| Region | |
|---|---|
| Subregion | France > Bordeaux > Right Bank > Pomerol |
| Colour | Red |
| Type | Still |
Unwinding in the glass with aromas of raspberries, violets, rose petals, Egyptian musk and spices, the 2019 Pensées de Lafleur is full-bodied, layered and velvety, with a deep, fleshy, concentrated core of fruit, lively acids and ripe, powdery tannins, concluding with a long, penetrating finish. Derived from vines growing in the part of Lafleur's vineyard through which a water course once flowed and where the soils are richer in clay and better hydrated, it's a blend of more or less equal parts Cabernet Franc and Merlot; this bottling hasn't really been a "second wine" since the late 1990s—but the market doesn't seem to have caught on. For now, it remains the best way to experience the Guinaudeau family's magic touch in Pomerol, for the price of a good Médoc second growth. Drink Date 2029 - 2059
The 2019 Pensées de Lafleur is composed and focused on the nose. An old school Pomerol in the positive sense, with truffle and ash scents emerging over time. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy black fruit, fine acidity, pencil lead and black pepper towards its cohesive and persistent finish. This is a class act. Tasted blind at the Southwold annual tasting. Drink 2026-2050.
The purity here is so clear, with perfumed and floral aromas. Extremely aromatic. Violets and some iodine, too. Full-bodied and creamy with a fantastic, layered texture of tannins and notes of tile, dark chocolate and nutmeg. Closes at the end. Try after 2026. Will age beautifully.
The 2019 Pensees de Lafleur is made from 55% Merlot and 45% Bouchet (Cabernet Franc). Deep garnet-purple in color, it is a little closed to begin, slowly unfurling to reveal notes of tar, crushed rocks, and black olives over a core of prunes and blackberry preserves. The full-bodied palate is rich, concentrated, and seductive with a velvety texture and long ferrous-laced finish.
Tasted blind. Bluer than most. Warm and gamey. Rich and sweet and beguiling on the palate with a little curranty flavour. Long. 15%
Drink 2025– 2036
The 2019 Pensées De Lafleur is the second wine of Château Lafleur, but instead of being a declassification, it comes from a narrow band of deeper clay soils that run diagonally through this magical vineyard. Always close to an even split of Cabernet Franc and Merlot (although I suspect there's more Cabernet Franc in this blend), it has a deeper, blacker fruited style compared to the Grand Vin, with beautiful notes of black cherries, currants, damp earth, iron, and smoked tobacco. Beautiful on the palate as well, it's medium to full-bodied, rich, nicely concentrated, and beautifully balanced on the palate, and while it might not hit the magical status of the top wine, it's a singular, beautiful wine in its own right that goes well beyond a second wine. It will keep for 20-25 years.
The 2019 Les Pensées has a very pure, floral bouquet of blackberry, crushed rock, pressed iris flowers and just a touch of graphite. The palate is medium-bodied with firm tannins, very structured for a Les Pensées, and strict toward the finish, which has impressive substance. Don’t be afraid to give this 3–5 years in bottle.2026 - 2042
Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2019 Pensees de Lafleur storms out of the glass with broody scents of black soil, tar, and licorice over a core of ripe plums, boysenberries, and redcurrants, plus a waft of underbrush. Full, concentrated and taut in the mouth, it has firm, ripe, grainy tannins and just enough freshness, finishing with a lingering mineral lift. 1987 was the first vintage of this second label - no Lafleur was made that year. This 2019 is a blend of 55% Merlot and 45% Bouchet (Cabernet Franc).
