2004 Château Lafleur

Tasted at Justerini & Brooks agency tasting in London. I absolutely adored the Château Lafleur 2004 when I first tasted it from barrel. Now with a decade on the clock, it is beginning to truly fulfil its promise as one of the wines of that vintage. It has a deep garnet hue. The nose demonstrates a sense of energy married with outstanding delineation: blackberry, blueberry and freshly shaved black truffle. The palate is extremely focused and tense, the acidity perfectly judged, and though the growing season perhaps curtails the sustain on the finish, there is coolness and a nonchalance here that is captivating. There remains some adolescent broodiness here, but give it another 3-4 years and you will have a great Pomerol and a great Lafleur on your hands. Tasted February 2015.

Dark greyish crimson. More autumn leaves than on the two Pessacs just tasted, more developed Merlot character at the very beginning yet still, amazingly, there's a primary sweet cherry aroma. Overriding impression is fruit purity and clarity. Maybe just a hint of smoky liquorice. Rich and deeply fruited, firm, juicy, caressingly gentle and so persistent with impressive freshness. (JH)