Pomerol Red Bordeaux Blend

The 2006 Lafleur is a vintage that I have not encountered for a little while. It is similar to how it tasted at a decade old with wild strawberry, blackberry and hints of cooked meat on the nose, still pretty backward and needing time to meld fully. The palate is medium-bodied with still a slightly coarse entry that I don't think would be accepted by Baptiste Guinaudeau today, slightly tarry toward a dense and somewhat muscular finish. Maybe it's just missing Lafleur's usual charm? Yet it's still an impressive Pomerol that requires more cellaring. Tasted at 67 Pall Mall for The Complete Bordeaux Vintage Guide dinner. (Neal Martin, Vinous, December 2023)

The 2013 Lafleur has an almost Left Bank nose: tobacco and graphite scents misleading you towards perhaps Saint-Julien! At least there is decent freshness. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, light for Lafleur but well-balanced with an attractive, harmonious and peppery finish. This Pomerol ends on a high note, though it will never be regarded as a "great Lafleur". Tasted at Bordeaux Index's 10-Year On tasting. (Neal Martin, Vinous, August 2023)

The 1995 Lafleur was bought and served blind by Baptiste Guinaudeau at a dinner in Saint-Émilion. It's not dissimilar to the bottle drunk in 2018. On the nose, there is black fruit with graphite and game hints. Given that it is now 27 years old, the 1995 is maturing at a glacial pace. The palate is medium-bodied with firm tannins that loosen up with aeration. With blackberry, black truffle and a touch of smoke, this Lafleur exudes Cabernet Franc on the finish. I thought that it might be ready to drink now, but this suggests it would be better to wait. Tasted in Bordeaux. (Neal Martin, Vinous, January 2023)

wow. Deep plum and violet. Lush and supple. Gorgeous and long.

Safe to say we were committing infanticide in drinking this. Dark purple right to the rim and still unyielding in it's massive structure, the wine hardly even developed over the course of our 5-hour lunch. The nose opens with sweet almost-candied blackcurrants, tobacco leaves, and plenty of fresh herbs. It comes off as almost green, courtesy of the Cabernet Franc, which is really positive in this wine's case as it helps balance out the brooding fruit. The palate is dense and mouth-filling, with plush carpet-like tannins, and vibrant acidity. Finishes long, peppery, and a little gravelly. It's quite mind-boggling how much was packed into this wine without compromising on alcohol levels. While it's no blockbuster Lafleur, there's a sense of purity and old-school Bordeaux elegance that I really appreciate here.

The 2010 Lafleur is showing a lot of Cabernet Franc on the nose. It is supremely well defined with incredibly clarity and terroir expression. You could almost mistake it for a Left Bank. Figeac? The palate is precise and detailed, touches of burnt toast and white pepper sprinkled over the persistent and structured finish that does not miss a step. Brilliant. Tasted blind at Farr Vintners 10-Year On Bordeaux horizontal. (Neal Martin, Vinous, April 2020)

A wine that wholly deserves the head exploding emoji 🤯

Soft styled and classic dark cherry fruit. A whiff of tobacco. Sexy and lush on the palate. Gorgeous

Very poised dark fruit with a hint of lavender and mint. A gorgeous supple mouthfeel and a delicate long finish. Just wow.

Soft roses, tobacco, herbal notes and a delicate cherry middle. A touch short on the end but a gorgeous opening