2009 Château Lafleur
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Tasting notes
I have tasted the 2009 Lafleur several times, but on this occasion it is surpassed by not only the 2010, but the 2008. It doesn't quite have the delineation of those vintages, powerful and burly on the nose with a mixture of blueberry and blackberry, not as ferrous as previous bottles, but just requiring a little more delineation. The palate has weight and concentration in spades, lacquering the mouth with tannins. This gargantuan Lafleur delivers in dimension, but is not as sophisticated as other vintages. More impressive than classy by Lafleur's standards. Tasted from ex-château magnum at Kate & Kon's 40-Year vertical in Austria.
Critic scores
James Suckling
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More reviews and scores
Tasted blind. Some savour. Fresh and racy, very sleek – with ‘cashmere tannins’. Polished and fun to drink already. Lots of persistence. (JR)
The 2009 Lafleur (55% Cabernet Franc and 45% Merlot) is an incredible wine in the vintage, not due to its concentration or richness, but due to its purity, finesse, and elegance! Revealing a deep ruby/purple color and perfumed notes of black raspberries, violets, forest floor, and spring flowers, this seamless Pomerol hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a layered, multi-dimensional, weightless texture, and ultra-fine tannin. With perfectly integrated oak, a perfumed, complex style, and no hard edges, it’s as sexy and seamless as it gets. If this wine doesn’t put a smile on your face, I can’t imagine what would. It’s already impossible to resist (it blossoms with time in the glass) but I suspect it will cruise in the cellar for another 2-3 decades.
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.