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1995 Lafleur
98 WS
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Review
A '95 that exploded in the glass in contact with air. Solid and masculine, with dark chocolate and bitter mocha notes, there's big intensity here. While the tannins are burly for now, the aromas keep coming--rose petal, violet and currant backed by creamy, vanilla bean character. Elegant finish.--Château Lafleur vertical. Best from 2005 through 2015. 1,000 cases made. Wine Spectator
Wine Spectator | 98 WS
Critic Reviews
A '95 that exploded in the glass in contact with air. Solid and masculine, with dark chocolate and bitter mocha notes, there's big intensity here. While the tannins are burly for now, the aromas keep coming--rose petal, violet and currant backed by creamy, vanilla bean character. Elegant finish.--Château Lafleur vertical. Best from 2005 through 2015. 1,000 cases made.
Wine Spectator | 98 WS
It has taken a long time for the '95 Lafleur to really open up and hit its stride, but now its time has come. This is showing a sumptuous bouquet of savoury sous bois and pencil lead, followed by ripe black fruits. The palate is no less impressive, with supple maturity and ripeness holding sway. The blackberry fruit is dry, bright and savoury, and interplays beautifully with the tree bark, truffle, tobacco and liquorice finish. The superbly ripe tannic structure is offset by a spine of fine, firm acidity. This is at a wonderful stage of development now, and it will continue to age for another decade with consummate ease Drinking Window 2018 - 2030
Decanter | 97 DEC
Tasted at Justerini & Brooks agency tasting in London. So far this year, I have tasted the Château Lafleur 1995 twice and it is rapidly becoming my favorite wine of that decade, vying with the 1998. Unlike the 2000, this is now reaching its plateau of maturity after 20 years, though it will remain there for many years. It has a sensual bouquet with wonderful definition: blackberry, bacon fat, hot gravel scents abound and then after 30-40 minutes a sprig of wild mint. Mercurial and captivating—that's a great Lafleur on the nose. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, though they are not quite as filigree and finely chiselled as the 2000. There is unquestionably immense depth here with tertiary black fruit, smoke and black truffle before fanning out in confident fashion on the finish. This is just a superb Lafleur with a long and prosperous life ahead. Tasted February 2015.
Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 96 RP
The 1995 Lafleur is a wine that I have been lucky enough to taste several times, the last in 2015. This bottle is consistent with others: black fruit, graphite, hints of cooked meat and bell pepper emanating from the Cabernet Franc component. I look for that warm gravel trait developing after 30 minutes in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied but as mercurial as always, shape-shifting in the glass, keeping you on your toes. It boasts perfectly judged acidity. It is not quite as sleek and perhaps does not quite boast the same panache of more recent vintages, yet it is adorned with impressive depth. It glides into a gorgeous, black truffle and smoke-infused finish as the Cabernet Franc moves into the driving seat. It is not quite amongst the very best bottles of the 1995 that I have encountered, but it is not far off. Tasted at the “International Wine & Business” Lafleur dinner at Ten Trinity, London.
Vinous Media | 95 VM
Wine Spectator | 98 WS
It has taken a long time for the '95 Lafleur to really open up and hit its stride, but now its time has come. This is showing a sumptuous bouquet of savoury sous bois and pencil lead, followed by ripe black fruits. The palate is no less impressive, with supple maturity and ripeness holding sway. The blackberry fruit is dry, bright and savoury, and interplays beautifully with the tree bark, truffle, tobacco and liquorice finish. The superbly ripe tannic structure is offset by a spine of fine, firm acidity. This is at a wonderful stage of development now, and it will continue to age for another decade with consummate ease Drinking Window 2018 - 2030
Decanter | 97 DEC
Tasted at Justerini & Brooks agency tasting in London. So far this year, I have tasted the Château Lafleur 1995 twice and it is rapidly becoming my favorite wine of that decade, vying with the 1998. Unlike the 2000, this is now reaching its plateau of maturity after 20 years, though it will remain there for many years. It has a sensual bouquet with wonderful definition: blackberry, bacon fat, hot gravel scents abound and then after 30-40 minutes a sprig of wild mint. Mercurial and captivating—that's a great Lafleur on the nose. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, though they are not quite as filigree and finely chiselled as the 2000. There is unquestionably immense depth here with tertiary black fruit, smoke and black truffle before fanning out in confident fashion on the finish. This is just a superb Lafleur with a long and prosperous life ahead. Tasted February 2015.
Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 96 RP
The 1995 Lafleur is a wine that I have been lucky enough to taste several times, the last in 2015. This bottle is consistent with others: black fruit, graphite, hints of cooked meat and bell pepper emanating from the Cabernet Franc component. I look for that warm gravel trait developing after 30 minutes in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied but as mercurial as always, shape-shifting in the glass, keeping you on your toes. It boasts perfectly judged acidity. It is not quite as sleek and perhaps does not quite boast the same panache of more recent vintages, yet it is adorned with impressive depth. It glides into a gorgeous, black truffle and smoke-infused finish as the Cabernet Franc moves into the driving seat. It is not quite amongst the very best bottles of the 1995 that I have encountered, but it is not far off. Tasted at the “International Wine & Business” Lafleur dinner at Ten Trinity, London.
Vinous Media | 95 VM
Wine Details for 1995 Lafleur
| Type of Wine |
Bordeaux Red
: Picture in your mind a combination of cedar, lead pencil, blackcurrant, plum and mineral aromatics, and texture that caresses your palate like a playful lover. The experience is thrilling from the first whiff to the final seconds of a tannic, generous finish - that is what you'll get from a Bordeaux Red |
|---|---|
| Varietal | Bordeaux Blend |
| Country |
France
: Wine is the lifeblood that courses through the country of France, pulsing with vigorous pride and determination. Viticulture is not just a hobby or an occupation in France; it is a passion, a cherished tradition that has been passed down through generations of wine stained hands. Winemaking is a beloved art that has been ingrained in the culture, an aptitude instilled in sons by fathers and the hallmark for which France’s reputation was built, allowing it to be renowned as, arguably, the most important wine producing country in the world. For centuries, France has been producing wines of superior quality and in much greater quantity than any other country in the world. It boasts some of the most impressive wine regions, coveted vineyards and prestigious wines on earth. The regions of Bordeaux, Burgundy, Rhone, Sauternes and Champagne have become the benchmark, for which others aspire to become. Legendary producers such as Chateaux Margaux, Domaine De La Romanee Conti, Chapoutier, d’Yquem and Dom Perignon are idolized world-wide. France has stamped its name on nearly every style of wine, from the nectar-like sweet Sauternes to hedonistic Chateauneuf Du Papes classic Bordeaux and Burgundy, to its sparkling dominance in Champagne. Many of the most infamous grape varietals in the world, such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay originated in France and are not only beloved, but utilized in the creation of some of the greatest wines on earth. French wine production commands the attention of the wine market year after year. With over 860,000 hectares under vine, and numbers close to 50 million hectoliters of wine produced annually, France dominates the market and sets the standard for not only product quality, but also quantity. France’s many contributions to the world of wine have been absolutely indispensable. The country is the originator of the term “Premier Cru,” coined the term Terroir (a French term so complex there is no literal translation) and has laid the blueprint for a structured appellation system, which others have implemented in their own countries. French vineyard techniques and winemaking practices are mimicked world-wide. California vintners have been replicating Rhone style wines for decades, South America has adopted the French varietal of Malbec and countries around the world are imitating Burgundian styled Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. With vast diversity in terroir, France is home to some of the most hospitable winegrowing locations on earth. The combination of topography, geology, climate, rainfall and even the amount of sunlight combined with the long historical tradition of winegrowing and making, has allowed the vintners of France to not only hone their skills, but learn from nature to create a product that like the world in which it resides… is very much alive. |
Overview
| Producer |
Chateau Lafleur
: In recent history, the wine of Chateau Lafleur has been outstanding. It could be argued that it is atop the Pomerol pyramid, rivaling even Petrus. This modern era success is impressive; stringing together bombshell wines from the 2000 vintage to present. However, the history of Lafleur does not begin with this slew of fantastic vintages but rather can be traced back to 1872. At that time, Henri Greloud, the owner of Chateau Le Gay purchased the Pomerol vineyards of what was to eventually become Chateau Lafleur. He was experienced in the Bordeaux wine trade as well as a negociant. He had interests in St. Emilion at Chateau La Dominique and Chateau Daugay. Shortly after the formation of the new estate the quality of wines being produced at Chateaux Lafleur witnessed an extraordinary gain in quality. By 1893 it was considered the third best wine in all of Pomerol, following only Vieux Chateau Certan and Petrus. A rather hasty jump into the upper echelon of Pomerol greats. While many Bordeaux chateaux have changed hands over the past several generations, Chateau Lafleur remains in the same family to this day. Each generation of the Greloud family has taken considerable care of the property. Between 1900 and 1984 the estate would be passed down through members of the family, each devoting their lives to keeping the Right Bank property producing top quality wine. In 1984, Jacques and Sylvie Guinadeau, the great grandchildren of Henri Greloud took control of the estate and helped bring Lafleur into the modern era and its climb to the top of Pomerol. Today the 4.58-hectare vineyard, located in the heart of the Pomerol Plateau, is planted to 50% Cabernet Franc, 50% Merlot. There is no sign announcing you are in Lafleur as it remains a humble, understated property but their neighbors are quite recognizable; Chateau La Fleur Petrus, Vieux Chateau Certan and Chateau Hosanna. The terroir is rather unique as it is comprised of four different soil types that complement each other very well. The northwest is a gravel hillock with brown gravelly soil. To the south it consists of brown sandy-gravelly soil over a gravelly-clay sub soil. The east end of the vineyard is comprised of brown sandy-gravelly soil over a sandy-clay sub soil. Located exactly dead center of the vineyard is a crescent-shaped area with deep soil ranging from sandy silt to brown sand. As aforementioned, this combination of complementary soils gives the wine of Lafleur its uniqueness, balance, complexity and most importantly, its character. According to Jacques Guinadeau, “the soils are ‘poor,’ which makes them perfectly suitable for vine growing.” The team at Lafleur works tirelessly to enable the vines to unveil their best expression without excessive intervention. This includes raking the soil rather than turning so the stones are always on top, allowing the sun to radiate its heat into the soil overnight. Soil maintenance techniques have been implemented to aerate the soil without changing its natural structure. Work is never completed in the soil in July to favor the slight vine water deficit in the summer, which aids in the ripening process. The extreme care and respect for the natural terroir has helped to improve vine health and vitality. In addition to its flagship, another wine is produced at Lafleur named Les Pensees; cleverly coined the “insiders secret,” due to its incredible quality, fair price and obscurity. The grapes used to produce this wine are sourced from the crescent shaped plot in the center of the vineyard. It is not considered a second wine as they feel it comes from a specific section of their Pomerol vineyard and its blend is quite different to that of Chateau Lafleur, making it its own unique wine. Annual production for Chateau Lafleur is around 1000 cases, while Les Pensees produces around 750 cases each year. |
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