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Tasting notes
Tasted blind. Light crimson. There’s something a bit plasticky about the nose of this although otherwise it’s rather agreeable. Good balance but in a very minor key. (JR)
Critic scores
Average Score
William Kelley, Wine Advocate
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
An utterly quintessential Lafleur, the 2021 Château Lafleur is a blend of 52% Cabernet Franc and 48% Merlot. Sensational framboise, woodsmoke, spring flowers, tobacco, and graphite are just some of the nuances, and it's medium to full-bodied, has a layered, multi-dimensional texture, ultra-fine tannins, and a stunning finish. It's clearly the wine of the vintage and has more depth, layers, and length than just about every other wine in the vintage. It deserves 5-7 years in the cellar and will evolve beautifully over the following two decades. Not enough can be said about the talent, dedication, and attention to detail that regularly occurs at this address, and clearly the results are in the bottle.
The 2021 Lafleur has an outstanding bouquet, brilliantly delineated with dense black fruit, melted tar, black olive and a touch of Japanese nori. It seems to grow in the glass, thumbing its nose at the supposed "challenging" growing season. The palate is medium-bodied with much more cohesion and concentration than its peers, exquisite balance, a keen thread of acidity and a precise and persistent finish. This is a strong contender for the wine of the vintage, perhaps vying with L'Eglise-Clinet.
The 2021 Lafleur is a complex and mysterious wine. Tasting it today is like opening an early chapter in a great book. There's plenty of intrigue, but so much has yet to develop. Possessing dynamic energy and dimension, the 2021 is incredibly fascinating. This edition of Lafleur has tremendous pedigree and complexity—a wine of notable nuance and character. Dark red-toned fruit, lavender, rose petal, mint and gravel linger.
About the producer
The Société Civile du Ch. Lafleur is the collective name for the Guinaudeau family’s wines and estates. These are some of the Right Bank’s most famous wines, including Ch. Lafleur and Les Pensées in Pomerol, along with Les Perrières, Les Champs Libres and Ch. Grand Village in Fronsac.