2016 Château La Fleur de Gay
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Tasting notes
The 2016 La Fleur de Gay initially has a rather flat nose and is missing the vigour of its peers, though it does gain more intensity with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied, with sappy red fruit, fine tannins, a keen line of acidity and an elegant finish. It just does not quite achieve the heights of its peers, but it does improve in the glass and my score creeps up. Tasted blind at the Southwold 10-Year-On tasting.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jancis Robinson MW
Neal Martin
More reviews and scores
More interesting on the nose with its showy display of chocolate covered, black cherries, plums, espresso, licorice, flowers and mocha, than on the palate, which is lush, sweet and filled with fruit. However the oak shows more than fruit which takes away from the overall experience. Drink from 2023-2040.
The 2016 Fleur de Gay has a strange bouquet, rather simple and missing Pomerol DNA. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, but underneath there is a nagging greenness, as if one vat did not quite achieve phenolic maturity. I will defer judging this wine, as I am not sure how representative this bottle is. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting.
Tasted blind. Dark, lustrous crimson. Meaty and very arresting. Mouth-filling – makes a big impact. Polished tannins there in abundance. (JR)