2016 Les Pensees de Lafleur
Market price
Buying options
Tasting notes
The 2016 Pensées de Lafleur has a slightly more gawky yet charming bouquet, fresh and saline, touches of crushed stone infusing the black fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with pliant tannins, very well balanced, silky smooth, with just the right amount of pepperiness developing in the glass. It just seems to "flow". Tasted blind at the Southwold 10-Year-On tasting.
Critic scores
James Suckling
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
A touch of gunsmoke reduction on opening, clearing to show superb dark fruit character, fragrant floral aromatics and a ton of luscious juicy tannins. This is right up there, vying for its place alongside many 1st wine 2016s in Pomerol that I have tasted today. Absolutely delicious, so creamy and yet so taut, hawthorn, cassis, black cherry and grilled vanilla bean. In a sweet spot but will age. Baptiste and Julie Guinaudeau owners.
So opulent and ripe after a flight of traditional left-bank bordeaux – emphasises Pomerol’s opulent side. On the palate it becomes almost confected, certainly helped along by heady vanilla oak scent. The finish is perhaps too obviously oaky at present, but there is still primary fruit yet to evolve, so there’s no hesitation to cellar this longer. (RH)
The 2016 Les Pensées de Lafleur has a lively, tertiary bouquet, a little leafy in style, with more expressive Cabernet Franc evident here. The medium-bodied, lightly spiced palate features supple tannins and a dash of white pepper. Tapers slightly, although I believe it is entering a closed phase and just needs time. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting.
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.