Region | |
---|---|
Subregion | France > Bordeaux > Bordeaux Generic |
Colour | Red |
Type | Still |
A striking wine from the limestone plateau of Fronsac planted with massale selections from Lafleur, the 2019 Les Perrières de Lafleur is indecently good. Bursting with aromas of raspberries, violets, warm spices and rose petals, it's full-bodied, deep and concentrated, with a racy, tensile profile and a long, intensely mineral finish. Les Perrières de Lafleur is compelling testimony to the primacy of vine genetics over age, as the Cabernet Franc here is a mere 3-4 years old and the Merlot 7-8, yet the resulting wine already boasts incredible intensity and character. It certainly puts the "Supérieur" in the appellation "Bordeaux Supérieur." Drink Date 2025 - 2055
This is really spicy and fruity with black cherries and flowers on the nose. Hints of stems, too. Medium to full body with really fine tannins and salty and white-pepper character. Spicy and crushed-stone notes. Flavorful finish. Drink or hold.
The 2019 Les Perrieres is an approximate blend of 2/3 Bouchet (Cabernet Franc) and 1/3 Merlot. "This is Lafleur on limestone," commented winemaker Omri Ram. "We produced a near exact copy of Lafleur with cuttings taken from Pomerol. These are now 5- to 10-year-old vines." Deep garnet-purple colored, it needs a little swirling to reveal notes of black raspberries, Morello cherries, and mulberries with suggestions of violets, cumin seed, wild sage, and rosehip tea. Medium-bodied, the palate is lively with crunchy red and black fruits layers framed by very fine-grained tannins and great tension, finishing long and lifted.
This has earthy, graphite-laced cool blue fruits that you wouldn't necessarily associate with a solar vintage like 2019. It says a lot for the deft, skilful winemaking, as this delivers a sense of verticality and lift through the palate, and edges of elderflower and pencil lead delicacy. Gathers in intensity, reflects its limestone soils. Demands attention and patience. From the Guinaudeau family, as with Château Lafleur in Pomerol.
Tasted blind. Dark crimson. Complete, rich nose. Lots of vitality. Velvety texture. Just not overdone! But there is still a very drying finish. 15%
Drink 2026– 2035
An incredible Fronsac that readers should seek out is the 2019 Les Perrieres De Lafleur, which comes from a massale selection of vines from Château Lafleur planted on the clay and limestone soils of the Fronsac plateau. A mix of Merlot and Cabernet Franc, it has a darker ruby hue to go with a gorgeous perfume of black raspberries, darker cherries, sappy herbs, flowers, and forest floor. Gorgeous on the palate as well, this medium to full-bodied beauty has ultra-fine tannins, beautiful overall balance, and a great finish. It's a joy to drink today, yet it has another 15+ years of longevity ahead of it.