Wine Advisor
Lafleur 2013
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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: Neal Martin
The Lafleur is a blend of 45% Merlot picked on 1 and 2 October, and 55% Cabernet Franc picked on 9 October. Leaving the wine to open up over 5 minutes you can discern a distant marine influence that suffuses the black fruit: small dark cherries and boysenberry. The palate is medium-bodied with very good structure. The tensile tannins are immediately recognizable and as Baptiste mentioned, reminiscent of classic vintages such as 1988, 2001 and 2004. It is a masculine Lafleur, upstanding and perhaps even slightly aloof, but there is great penetration and focus towards the saline finish. If you want a more flamboyant Lafleur then head for the 2009, but if you appreciate a more reserved Lafleur then head here. Tasted April 2014.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
The dark ruby-colored 2013 Lafleur (55% Cabernet Franc and 45% Merlot) displays excellent licorice and kirsch notes, medium body, and attractive purity and ripeness in a pretty, mid-weight style. It should drink nicely for 10-15 years. This vintage’s growing season – a cold spring, hot July and stressful September with high humidity with lots of pressure from botrytis forming in the red grapes – resulted in a small crop at Lafleur.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The 2013 Lafleur was one of my favorite wines from barrel because, as Baptiste Guinaudeau remarked when I visited the property, he did not try to make a Pomerol beyond what it could be. The nose might not possess the complexity of the best vintages of Lafleur, but it is clearly delineated and fresh, with blackberry and raspberry fruit, a subtle granitic scent tucked underneath. The palate is medium-bodied with quite firm tannin, as is often the case for Lafleur, with crunchy red berry fruit and a stony, almost reserved but fresh finish that lingers nicely in the mouth. This is an excellent wine considering the growing season.
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
Violets, plums, crushed rocks and cloves jump from the glass in the 2013 Lafleur. A vibrant, finely sculpted wine, the 2013 impresses for its energy and tension. With time in the glass, the flavors become even more delineated and nuanced. The 2013 is a mid-weight wine, that offers terrific potential for the future.
Reviewed by: Ian d'Agata
(55% cabernet franc and 45% merlot): Bright ruby-red. Captivating aromas of raspberry, violet, white pepper and green coffee bean. The vibrant flavors of red berries, citrus peel, minerals and soy sauce really resonate on the palate, with the finish bringing a strong saline nuance. This tougher-than-usual Lafleur lacks the charm of the great wines from this estate, but it will likely age better than most wines from this vintage.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The 2013 Lafleur, from the infamously maligned growing season, was picked entirely in October. It has a light and slightly monotone bouquet with mulberry and blackberry scents, a touch of briary and floral scents. The aromatics are nothing to be ashamed of. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy red berry fruit, more Merlot than Cabernet Franc-driven, balanced if missing the complexity of most vintages from this esteemed Pomerol growth. Not bad, however it is not a long-term prospect and lacks the cerebral element that Lafleur often brings to the table. Tasted at the Christies’ Lafleur masterclass in London.
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.
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Package Size
1 x 6L
