Wine Advisor
Lafleur 1982
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Description
Château Lafleur is a tiny 4.5-hectare Pomerol property located opposite Pétrus and producing wines of comparable quality. Lafleur is owned and run by Sylvie and Jacques Guinadeau. Its vineyards are situated on the gravel-rich Pomerol plateau and adjoin those of La Fleur-Pétrus. The soils here are particularly deep and are enriched by deposits of potassium and iron. Only natural fertilisers are used and yields are painfully low, even by Pomerol standards. By the 1980s, Chateau Lafleur was on its way to becoming one of the world’s most in-demand wines selling for more than the First Growths. In 1975, Robert Parker made his first visit to the estate and since then never stopped writing about the wine. His comments on Chateau Lafleur excited consumers all over the world, and thus became one of those Pomerol wines that tied to the success and continuous praise heaped on the wine by Robert Parker.
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
Some consider the 1983 to be better than the 1982, but for the life of me I cannot see it. The 1982 boasts a more saturated color, is more backward, and possesses enormous layers of super-ripe plummy/pruny fruit. An unctuous, thick, rich wine that has consistently drunk well since being bottled, it exhibits little sign of full maturity, giving me reason to believe that it will have a life of at least 20 or more years. Full-bodied, alcoholic, and intense, with a spectacularly pure and penetrating nose of black fruits, truffles, and spices, it is an enormously rich wine that can be drunk now because of its velvety texture. It will be interesting to see if this great Lafleur holds its own against the phenomenal 1989 and 1990. Last tasted, 6/93.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
A spectacular nose of kirsch liqueur, minerals, flowers, and blackberries jumps from the glass of this thick, dark ruby-colored Lafleur. Over-ripeness, a characteristic of many 1982s (I say that in a positive, not pejorative sense), is apparent in this jammy, unctuously-textured, massive wine. Somewhat of a paradox to taste, it offers notes of maturity, richness, and succulence contrasted with massive structure, muscle, and density. Thrilling to drink, despite its youthful, tannic grip, the 1975 and 1979 Lafleurs come closest to this wine's massiveness and formidable intensity. Anticipated maturity: 2004-2030.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The nose seems a little stalky at first but that dissipates after ten minutes in the glass and from then on in, you are in for one hell of a vinous ride. The bouquet gradually unfurls to reveal dense black brambly fruits, a hint of dark chocolate and green bell pepper, macerated cherries all with unbelievable delineation and focus. The palate is still tannic and backwards, a colossus of immense power and focus, brilliantly balanced, ebullient black fruits and a hint of that savoury character peeking its head round the corner at the finish. Drink 2020-2060+ Tasted March 2008.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
The 1982 Lafleur, at least for my palate, while qualitatively no better than Mouton Rothschild, Latour, and La Mission Haut Brion, is off the charts in terms of the hedonistic and intellectual pleasure it gives me. I have only a few bottles remaining in my cellar, and this 1982 is still a young wine. The extraordinary intensity and purity of the kirsch liqueur and licorice, the remarkable opulence, the thickness and richness, yet the ability to seem fresh with laser-like precision are all things that must be tasted to be believed. This wine is showing a little bricking at the edge, but has off the chart concentration as well as a viscous texture and unreal purity and fruit. It is as close to some of the legendary 1947s that were produced in Pomerol as anything made in the last thirty years. This is a remarkable wine! Anticipated maturity: now-2030. Release price: ($325.00/case)
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
This wine is finally beginning to live up to my proselytization. Over the last several years, it has begun to reveal its extraordinary richness. The wine's fragrance of quintessential black-cherry jam must be smelled to be believed. It is completely different than the thick, tannic, colossal 1975 or mammothly constituted wines of 1985, 1988, 1989, and 1990. The vintage that comes closest to resembling the 1982 is the 1990. The over-ripe, cherry liqueur character of the bouquet is unmistakable. The wine possesses a dark ruby color, and a fabulous, exotic nose of incense combined with cherry jam. Thick, alcoholic flavors filled with glycerin and extract border on the surreal. Add a dosage of orange marmalade, soy, and juicy black cherry and plum-like fruit and, yes, the 1982 Lafleur is at your service. This thick, exotically-flavored wine is almost too intense and idiosyncratic for most tasters. But, wow, what a persuasive case for old vine Merlot and Cabernet Franc. This wine was actually softer 10 years ago, but it has taken on more grip and tannin with age. I would never hesitate to drink a bottle now, but it will undoubtedly become even better over the next 5-10 years. It should last through the first two decades of the next century . Tasted 16 times since bottling with consistent notes.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
A deep garnet core that is more opaque than Trotanoy or L’Evangile 1982. A stunning nose explodes from the glass: dusty black fruits, dark chocolate, cassis and a touch of kirsch. Very complex and engaging. Like many Lafleurs, the palate is ferociously backward and tannic, to the point of this wine being almost disagreeable at this particular moment. The 1982 belongs in the same class as “anachronistic” legends such as the Lafleur 1978 or 1979. You could almost mistake this for a Left Bank wine, a Saint Julien. A behemoth of a wine, perfectly stored bottles of 1982 should remain tucked up in their cellar for at least another two decades, whilst you can enjoy the 1983 or 1985 instead. Good things come to those who wait. Drink from 2006-2050.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
Tasted 12 Times Since Bottling With Consistent Notes The backward 1982 boasts a saturated color and enormous layers of super-ripe plummy/pruny fruit. An unctuous, thick, rich wine that has consistently drunk well since being bottled, it exhibits little sign of full maturity, giving me reason to believe that it will have a life of at least 20 or more years. Full-bodied, alcoholic, and intense, with a spectacularly pure and penetrating nose of black fruits (over-ripe black-cherries), truffles, and spices, it is an enormously rich wine that can be drunk now because of its velvety texture. It will be interesting to see if this great Lafleur holds its own against the phenomenal 1989 and 1990.
Reviewed by: William Kelley
The 1982 Lafleur is probably my favorite wine of the vintage, even if there are two or three wines that can rival it in quality, simply because it made such an impression on me when I first tasted it as a student. Today, from a perfect cellar where it has been stored since release, it remains extremely youthful; but it is also much more expressive than it was only six or seven years ago, offering up a singular bouquet of kirsch, sweet berries, licorice, orange zest, exotic spices and crushed mint. Full-bodied, satiny and sensual, it combines huge concentration with rare energy, exhibiting beautifully melted tannins and concluding with a long, pure finish. If I owned any bottles, and sadly I don't, I struggle to think of any circumstances in which I would willingly part with them.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
Tasted at “Fook Lam Moon” in Hong Kong. The immortal Lafleur 1982 almost swots Petrus 1982 aside. It still has that unbelievable bouquet with pure blackberry, wild hedgerow, a touch of stems lending a hint of pepperiness. It just grows like an awakening monster from the glass, offering mulberry and black truffle with time. The palate is medium-bodied with layer upon layer of ripe black fruits that are just multi-dimensional. The power and intensity of fruit roots you to the spot, but it never overwhelms, never compromises that sensational precision and focus. Immense. Tasted November 2011.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
Tasted five times in 2002, this wine, on each occasion, stood out as a colossal effort even in this great vintage. The wine still has a very dense, murky ruby/purple color, a nearly overripe nose of black cherry liqueur intermixed with raspberries, minerals, smoke, and some cold steel as well as white flowers that soars from the glass with tremendous force and staying power. Very thick, with a viscous texture reminiscent some of the late forties’ vintages of Pomerol, high extract, and huge, opulent flavors, this wine hits the palate with a cascade of glycerin, fruit, and extract. Almost over the top, but surprisingly well-delineated for its massive size, this is an extraordinary, concentrated, fabulously compelling wine that should prove to be immortal. The wine has never tasted better in its entire life than in recent tastings done in 2002, yet still seems relatively young. Anticipated maturity: Now-2025. Last tasted, 12/02.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
Tasted at Pebbles/Zachy’s 1982 dinner in Hong Kong. The Lafleur ’82 is normally a perfect wine for me an awarding it a “paltry” 98-points is testament to how ethereal it can be. It has a fantastic bouquet, here showing more Cabernet Franc traits than other bottles with a pastille-like purity with an undertow of bacon fat and hot gravel. The palate is beautiful balanced, perhaps not exhibiting the same shimmering intensity of a perfect bottle, but still almost overwhelming in terms of structure and length. This is a truly magical wine even if it did not quite reach the stratosphere on this occasion. Tasted November 2012.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
This wine is finally beginning to live up to my proselytization. Over the last several years, it has begun to reveal its extraordinary richness. The wine's fragrance of quintessential black cherry jam must be smelled to be believed. It is completely different than the thick, tannic, colossal 1975 or mammothly constituted wines of 1985, 1988, 1989, and 1990. The vintage that comes closest to resembling the 1982 is the 1990. The over-ripe, cherry liqueur character of the bouquet is unmistakable. The wine possesses a dark ruby color, and a fabulous, exotic nose of incense combined with cherry jam. Thick, alcoholic flavors filled with glycerin and extract border on the surreal. Add a dosage of orange marmalade, soy, and juicy black cherry and plum-like fruit and, yes, the 1982 Lafleur is at your service. This thick, exotically-flavored wine is almost too intense and idiosyncratic for most tasters. But, wow, what a persuasive case for old vine Merlot and Cabernet Franc. This wine was actually softer 10 years ago, but it has taken on more grip and tannin with age. I would never hesitate to drink a bottle now, but it will undoubtedly become even better over the next 5-10 years. It should last through the first two decades of the next century. Last tasted 9/95
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
Tasted from an ex-chateau bottle at the Lafleur vertical dinner at Attersee in Austria and yet another perfect bottle of this immortal Pomerol. It has an indescribably complex, crystalline bouquet with otherworldly minerality and tension. Like other bottles recently tasted, the Cabernet Franc is becoming more and more expressive with age offering scents of black truffle and sandalwood. The palate has a vibrant, penetrating entry with pitch perfect acidity. This bottle shows a slight saline influence towards the finish that contains a sorbet like vivacity. There are amazing wines and there are magical wines. The ’82 is both. Tasted June 2012.
About the Producer
In 2002, the Gwinoders completely acquired Lafleur, becoming the sole owner of Lafleur, and have been operating it ever since. Huabao now has 4.5 hectares of vineyards. The soil types in the garden are diverse, including gravel, clay and gravel. Generally speaking, these soils are relatively poor and very suitable for grape planting. Among the grape varieties planted in the vineyard, Merlot (Merlot) and Cabernet Franc (Cabernet Franc) are equally divided, each accounting for 50%, the planting density is 6,000-7,500 plants/ha, and the average tree age is 30 years.
1975(1)1976(1)
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