2021 Chateau Lafleur

The 2021 Lafleur has turned out brilliantly in bottle, unfurling in the glass with aromas of mulberries and raspberries mingled with complex top notes of mint, rose petals, exotic spices, licorice, blood orange and iris. Medium to full-bodied, layered and concentrated, it's polished and suave, with an enveloping core of sweet, pure fruit framed by ripe tannins, concluding with a long, perfumed finish. It's a blend of 52% Cabernet Franc and 48% Merlot. ~ (96) William Kelley, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate 2-8-2024

It’s the mid-palate that really impresses you with a depth, focus and polish of such beauty and complexity. Hint of fresh tomatoes. It’s medium- to full-bodied with layers of fine tannins and fruit. Cherries, oranges and violets throughout. Just a hint of spices. Persistent and fascinating for the vintage. 52% cabernet franc and 48% merlot. ~ (98) James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com 4-3-2024

An utterly quintessential Lafleur, the 2021 Château Lafleur is a blend of 52% Cabernet Franc and 48% Merlot. Sensational framboise, woodsmoke, spring flowers, tobacco, and graphite are just some of the nuances, and it's medium to full-bodied, has a layered, multi-dimensional texture, ultra-fine tannins, and a stunning finish. It's clearly the wine of the vintage and has more depth, layers, and length than just about every other wine in the vintage. It deserves 5-7 years in the cellar and will evolve beautifully over the following two decades. Not enough can be said about the talent, dedication, and attention to detail that regularly occurs at this address, and clearly the results are in the bottle. ~ (96) Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com 4-3-2024

The 2021 Lafleur is a complex and mysterious wine. Tasting it today is like opening an early chapter in a great book. There's plenty of intrigue, but so much has yet to develop. Possessing dynamic energy and dimension, the 2021 is incredibly fascinating. This edition of Lafleur has tremendous pedigree and complexity—a wine of notable nuance and character. Dark red-toned fruit, lavender, rose petal, mint and gravel linger. ~ (97) Antonio Galloni , Vinous 2-1-2024

The 2021 Lafleur has an outstanding bouquet, brilliantly delineated with dense black fruit, melted tar, black olive and a touch of Japanese nori. It seems to grow in the glass, thumbing its nose at the supposed "challenging" growing season. The palate is medium-bodied with much more cohesion and concentration than its peers, exquisite balance, a keen thread of acidity and a precise and persistent finish. This is a strong contender for the wine of the vintage, perhaps vying with L'Eglise-Clinet. ~ (96) Neal Martin, Vinous 2-1-2024

Cask sample.Exceptional density for the vintage. As usual restrained, although there is a floral nuance. Fruit-filled palate but with freshness and balance as well. Big tannic frame with imposing but polished tannins. Clearly the potential to age. ~ (18) James Lawther, JancisRobinson.com 4-26-2022

Takes its time, holds itself back, then hugs the palate, keeps its grip on your taste buds. Liqourice, iris, tobacco, violet, cassis and spiced plum, with traces of white pepper, tomato leaf and a curl of gunsmoke, full of sculpted tannins. This will take a few years reach its peak, as it runs against the usual feel of the vintage. Harvest September 17 to October 2. No chaptilisation. 12 nights of frost risk in 2021 but they successfully battled it and it is fairly similar to a normal year in terms of yield. ~ (96) Jane Anson, Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux 1-14-2024