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2009 Lafleur

99 RP

Availability:

From the critics:

100 JS

98 JD

97+ VM

95 WS

Featured Review
An absolutely prodigious blend of 55% Cabernet Franc and 45% Merlot, the 2009 Lafleur displays the tell-tale characteristics of this great estate. Kirsch liqueur, licorice and floral notes are intermixed with raspberry in a very full-bodied, super-intense, opulent and multi-dimensional style. Extraordinarily dense and pure, but not heavy by any means, the intensity, texture, and richness of the 2009 Lafleur are reminiscent of the perfect 1982. Anticipated maturity: 2018-2040. Robert Parker

Robert Parker | 99 RP

Critic Reviews

This is a crazy nose of tangerines and blueberries, with raspberries and mushroom and berries. Full-bodied, with ultra fine tannins. This wine is all about texture, with phenomenal tannins and subtle fruits that just make you think. Evocative. It is layered, yet changes all the time. I can’t believe it really. Speechless. Amazes me. Try in 2020.

James Suckling | 100 JS
An absolutely prodigious blend of 55% Cabernet Franc and 45% Merlot, the 2009 Lafleur displays the tell-tale characteristics of this great estate. Kirsch liqueur, licorice and floral notes are intermixed with raspberry in a very full-bodied, super-intense, opulent and multi-dimensional style. Extraordinarily dense and pure, but not heavy by any means, the intensity, texture, and richness of the 2009 Lafleur are reminiscent of the perfect 1982. Anticipated maturity: 2018-2040.

Robert Parker | 99 RP
The 2009 Lafleur (55% Cabernet Franc and 45% Merlot) is an incredible wine in the vintage, not due to its concentration or richness, but due to its purity, finesse, and elegance! Revealing a deep ruby/purple color and perfumed notes of black raspberries, violets, forest floor, and spring flowers, this seamless Pomerol hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a layered, multi-dimensional, weightless texture, and ultra-fine tannin. With perfectly integrated oak, a perfumed, complex style, and no hard edges, it’s as sexy and seamless as it gets. If this wine doesn’t put a smile on your face, I can’t imagine what would. It’s already impossible to resist (it blossoms with time in the glass) but I suspect it will cruise in the cellar for another 2-3 decades.

Jeb Dunnuck | 98 JD
The 2009 Lafleur is intense on the nose with darker fruit than the 2009 Ausone: freshly tilled earth, touches of pressed rose petals and a subtle ferrous scent, involving and quite mercurial. The palate is medium-bodied with succulent ripe tannin, velvety smooth and a cashmere texture. A mixture of blue and black fruit laced with spice leads to a very composed but powerful finish that lingers for 60+ seconds. This is only just beginning to show what it can do. Tasted blind at Farr Vintners’ 2009 Bordeaux tasting.

Vinous Media | 97+ VM
This gushes with mouthwatering blueberry, boysenberry and blackberry fruit, leading to a long black tea– and incense-filled finish. Darkens up considerably as it airs, with layers of extra flesh, Kenya AA coffee and charcoal notes striding through the finish. Shows an exotic side, and gorgeous mouthfeel. Best from 2015 through 2030. 950 cases made.

Wine Spectator | 95 WS

Wine Details for 2009 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 Proprietary Blend : Proprietary Blend is a general term used to indicate that a wine is comprised of multiple grape varietals which are either “proprietary” to the winery or is blended and does not meet the required maximum or minimum percentage of a particular varietal. This also is the case for the grape’s place of origin, especially for region, appellation or vineyard designated wines. There are endless examples of blended wines which are labeled as “Proprietary Blend” and in conjunction with each region’s stipulated wine laws and regulations makes for a vast blanket for wines to fall into. Perhaps the simplest example is California; if a wine is to be labeled as Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, it is required to have at least 75% of the varietal (Cabernet Sauvignon) and 85% of the fruit must be cultivated from the Napa Valley wine district. If the wine does not meet the requirements, it is then labeled as Proprietary 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.
Region Bordeaux : Even among the greatest and most reputable wine regions on the planet, Bordeaux stands above the rest. The winemakers of this region have a single-minded dedication to the fine art of viticulture and their efforts never fail to show. If you consider yourself a fine wine enthusiast, you owe it to yourself to visit Bordeaux - life changing. Whether you wish to drink some inspirational and gripping wine as soon as possible, or you want to add some masterpieces to your collection, no region on Earth is a more obvious choice.

The noble and beautiful Garonne and Dordogne rivers surge through southwestern France, enriching the soil in a way very few other places can boast. The limestone-based earth is rich in calcium, and the almost oceanic climate conditions give the staple Bordeaux grape varietals vigor and flavor like nowhere else. For their illustrious reds, Bordeaux winemakers rely on a proven combination of Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Meanwhile, a sip of their excellent white wine hints at the use of Semillon, Muscadelle and Sauvignon Blanc.Each of these varietals carries a unique identity, making every quality wine a character piece to rival Citizen Kane. It can be incredibly hard to choose only a few wines to collect for your cellar!
Subregion Right Bank
Appellation Pomerol

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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