Lafleur 1997

The 1997 Lafleur shows better than the bottle I tasted in 2018. It has a light bouquet, earthy with undergrowth scents, missing a little vivacity but there is commendable delineation. The palate is admittedly simple but shows a tad more substance than the 75cl bottle, straightforward but undeniably pretty with a dash of cracked black pepper on the finish. Fine. Tasted from ex-château magnum at Kate & Kon's 40-Year vertical in Austria. (Drink between 2025-2035)

An impressively saturated dense ruby/purple color is followed by the classic Lafleur aromas : jammy black raspberries, kirsch liqueur, prunes, and minerals. Forward, full-bodied, and sexy, with an unctuous texture, and gobs of sweet tannin, this is a luxurious, evolved Lafleur that will provide gorgeous drinking in 2-3 years, and last for two decades.