2016 La Fleur Petrus Red Bordeaux Blend

2016 La Fleur Petrus

98 JD

From the critics:

97 RP

97 AG

95 WE

94 WS

Featured Review

The 2016 Château La Fleur-Petrus is more regal and elegant, with an incredibly floral quality in its red and blue fruits, crushed rock, forest floor, and graphite-tinged aromas and flavors. This medium to full-bodied, rich, layered effort has notable structure, integrated acidity, beautiful balance, and a rock star finish. This is pure class and a thrilling La Fleur Petrus that needs 4-5 years of bottle age and will cruise for 2-3 decades. Jeb Dunnuck

Jeb Dunnuck | 98 JD

Wow. The blackberry, dried-flower and orange-peel aromas are so impressive at first, but then they go to black truffle and wet earth. Full-bodied with a solid core of powerful yet fine-grained tannins. It goes on for minutes. A very muscular La Fleur-Pétrus. Drink after 2025.

James Suckling | 99 JS

Again a 2016 Pomerol stuffed full of complexity and power, with a full tannic hold and not a trace of dryness but this is chewy through the finish and holds on tight. Blackcurrant, pepper, slate and grilled rosemary. Held back right now, it needs another three or four years in bottle. Drinking Window 2024 - 2044.

Decanter | 98 DEC

Blended of 91% Merlot and 9% Cabernet Franc, the medium garnet-purple colored 2016 la Fleur-Petrus reveals stunning Black Forest cake, redcurrant jelly and wilted roses scents with underlying suggestions of pencil shavings, yeast extract, dark chocolate and cloves. Medium to full-bodied, the mid-palate possesses superb intensity and depth with layers of perfumed black fruits and loads of red fruit sparks framed by firm, ripe, grainy tannins and oodles of freshness, finishing on a lingering earthy note.

Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 97 RP

The 2016 La Fleur-Pétrus soars out of the glass with striking aromatics. Light on its feet yet also quite fleshy, the 2016 has so much to offer. Blood orange and floral notes add brightness to the red-toned fruit in this silky, beautifully nuanced Pomerol. The 2016 is rich, dense and spectacularly beautiful, with a persistent, saline-drenched finish that makes it hard to resist a second taste.

Antonio Galloni | 97 AG

This wine comes from a large (for Pomerol) 46-acre vineyard. It has weight and density as well as dark tannins and rich black fruits. It shows great style with its beautifully integrated tannins. This wine will age well, ready to drink from 2025.

Wine Enthusiast | 95 WE

Ripe and warm in feel, with an alluring mix of creamy textured cherry, red currant and raspberry reduction notes, mixed with black tea and incense accents. Features a buried spine of graphite, with a hint of Turkish coffee lurking at the very end. Best from 2022 through 2036. 3,100 cases made.

Wine Spectator | 94 WS

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	Red Bordeaux Blend : The inhabitants of the Bordeaux region of France have been cultivating wine-grapes for thousands of years. Ancient Roman ruins litter the vineyards from Saint Emilion to Graves where the art of blending Bordeaux varietals has been practiced and perfected over a very long history. Bordeaux’s climate, terroir and soils, though varied, provide the optimal growing conditions for the red grape varietals planted in the region. Rarely listed on the labels as “blend,” the red wines of Bordeaux are perhaps the most artfully designed and celebrated in the world. The calculated art of blending the native Bordeaux varietals is impressively accomplished in the most famous winegrowing region in the world. The phrase Bordeaux Blend which seems to have been coined by British wine merchants in the 19th Century relates as much to wines made from the blend as to the grape variety combination itself. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Malbec and occasionally Carmenere are the lead characters in the creation of Red Bordeaux Blends. Each plays a part in their own fashion and implemented in various combinations and percentages in each appellation within Bordeaux. Red Bordeaux Blends are majorly composed of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, roughly making up 90% of all Bordeaux Blends. Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec (occasionally Carmenere) are also important components and vital to the production of the region’s red wines. For simplicity, the winegrowing region of Bordeaux can be divided into three main appellations producing Red Bordeaux Blends; the Left Bank (Medoc), Right Bank and Pessac-Leognan (Graves). The Left Bank has a terroir comprised of a wide variety of gravel, stones, sand, limestone and clay soils on a natural terrain of gentle slopes. This sets the stage perfectly for the production of Cabernet Sauvignon, which is the dominant grape of the Left Bank. For example, Chateau Lafite (Paulliac) is composed of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon. The Right Bank is dominated by clay and limestone with sand and gravel, but the clay in the Right Bank is distinctly its own and adds to the health, growth and vitality of the vines of the varietals grown here. Right Bank wines are typically 80% Merlot-based, which are often denser, richer and mature earlier than those of the Left Bank (with exceptions – Petrus for example). Merlot is a vital component to Pomerol winegrowing and making. Cabernet Franc also plays a major role in the Right Bank, most notably, in Saint Emilion, where the infamous vineyards of Chateau Ausone and Chateau Cheval Blanc are planted to 55% and 52% Cabernet Franc, respectively. Chateaux that produce wines with a majority of Cabernet Franc are considered “old school” producers, but have perfected the use of Cabernet Franc, which was originally used as a blending grape. Pessac-Leognan (Graves) enjoys a temperate climate, natural hygrometry influenced by the ocean, and has a terroir composed of gravelly soil over a clay subsoil on sloping, hilly terrain. Natural drainage due to the hilly terrain as well as the gravelly soil structure are perfectly attuned to the Cabernet Sauvignon grape vine, which prospers under these conditions. Pessac reaps the benefits of having the terroir of both the Left and Right Bank as it contains gravel and clay. The clay sub-soil allows the growth and success of Merlot, as well as Cabernet Franc. It is home to the only First Growth not in the Medoc. The 50-hectare vineyard of Haut Brion is planted to 45.4% Merlot, 43.9% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9.7% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot. The percentage of Petit Verdot and Malbec may be lesser in quantity, but not in quality. They are vital to the region’s creation of Red Bordeaux Blends. The combination of Bordeaux varietals is legendary in the region, around the world and has influenced winegrowers worldwide to plant and vinify wines which resemble those of Red Bordeaux Blends.
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.
Subregion	Pomerol

Producer	La Fleur Petrus : With only 800 hectares under vine in Pomerol and divided among 150 producers, land is scarce, highly coveted and considered a special privilege. Pomerol is considered the smallest of all the major Bordeaux wine producing appellations; the smallest estate being a miniscule .5 hectares (Chateau Enclos Tourmaline ) while the largest is a whopping 47.5 hectares (Chateau de Sales). With 18.7 hectares under vine, the historic estate of Chateau La Fleur-Petrus sits on prized soil located exclusively on the Pomerol Plateau and is lauded as one of the most renowned vineyards in the entire appellation. The Right Bank estate, which takes its name from its two closest neighbors (Chateau Lafleur and Chateau Petrus) has a long history in the appellation of Pomerol, dating back to the 18th century. The original chartreuse (classic, French, country-styled chateau) was built in 1782 and continues to grace the property to this day. Due to its position across the localities of ‘Petrus’ and ‘Lafleur’ the estate was aptly named and sold its wine under the name ‘Petrus Lafleur’ during those early years. When the property came under the ownership of Jean-Pierre Moueix in 1950, the estate was renamed to Chateau La Fleur-Petrus, as we know it today. Jean-Pierre Moueix established his family business (Etablissements Jean-Pierre Moueix) in Libourne in 1937. At that time, the wines of Pomerol were not yet widely recognized; however, Moueix being a visionary, foresaw the great potential both in the Merlot grape and its ability to age when grown in the best terroirs in his adopted region. Cabernet Franc was one of the early varietals planted in Pomerol but was slowly be phased out or reduced in favor of Merlot, which thrived in the native terroir. Moueix, with his incredible intuition and foresight began augmenting his merchant business with the acquisition of several well-known vineyards, starting with Chateau La Fleur-Petrus (named Petrus Lafleur when acquired) which he took possession of in 1950. The single-block vineyard, which is unusual for Pomerol, is located at 33 to 38 meters above sea level atop the Pomerol Plateau. The terroir is composed of gravel and deep clay on iron-rich subsoil. The 18.7 hectare vineyard draws its identity from nuances of soil and the elevation of each parcel. The parcels dominated by gravel yield wines of great elegance, while those dominated by clay are distinctly velvety, dense and structured. Moueix’s respect and understanding of the terroir and its marriage to the appropriate varietals in the optimal soil structure has created harmony in the vineyard and a wine that is an ethereal expression of the land itself. La Fleur-Petrus is composed predominantly of Merlot (91%) which lends silkiness and generosity to the wine. Cabernet Franc (6%) planted on gravel and fine clay, contributes rigor and complexity, while a small percentage of Petit Verdot (3%) planted on fine gravel offers a hint of spice to the finish. Due to low yields, a mere 2,500 cases are produced annually. The vines are on average 35 years of age, planted a stone’s throw from Chateau Petrus (which resides across a dirt path) and abut the vines of Chateau Lafleur. Despite proximity to its famous neighbors, the terroir is quite different from either due to La Fleur-Petrus’ unique mix of fine gravel-stones and clay soil. There is little if any of the infamous blue clay which the vines of Petrus and Lafleur thrive in; however, this does detract in any way from the quality of wines produced at La Fleur-Petrus as they have become a benchmark for the region in their own right. Today, the second and third generations, Christian and Edouard Moueix are continuing the legacy of La Fleur-Petrus, further expanding the brand that has become internationally recognized and beloved. It is an icon for success and an inspiration for growers and makers not only in Pomerol, but all Right Bank of Bordeaux.

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2016 La Fleur Petrus

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