1971 La Fleur Petrus

The 1971 La Fleur-Pétrus cannot quite match the ethereal bottle that I opened last August, yet this is a very fine example. Black truffle and autumn leaves infuse the open and beautifully defined red fruit on the nose. The palate is elegant and refined, not a deep or powerful Pomerol yet effortless and harmonious at half-a-century. Whilst there is a little bottle variation, good examples of this will entrance.

The final red was the 1971 La Fleur-Pétrus. This came from the same munificent gentleman who gave me a bottle for my half-century innings in February during lockdown. This was a much better bottle. It has a stunning nose reminiscent of a magnum opened by the Moueix family at the château a few years back, beautifully defined and featuring menthol and wilted rose petal scents and a touch of balsam and black tobacco, all displaying ethereal transparency. The palate is perfectly balanced with almost piquant red fruit, elegant and old-school. The silky-smooth finish lingers in the mouth, showing much more grip than the bottle I had in February. Brilliant.

The 1971 La Fleur-Petrus has a sublime bouquet with scents of kirsch and menthol; orange peel, dark cherries and pressed violets that captivates its audience. The nose is beautifully balanced and clearly à point . The acidity is perfectly judged and the tannins more elegant and refined than the 1970, thereby lending it femininity and charm. The finish glides across the mouth with hints of toffee/caramel lending a soupçon of opulence on the finish. This is the best bottle that I have encountered – far superior to the previous bottles.