Still youthfully ruby/plum-hued with very little in the way of bricking, the 2005 Château La Fleur-Petrus has a gorgeous perfume of red and black fruits that give way to more spicy, floral, leather, and mineral nuances with time in the glass. Ripe, medium to full-bodied, and expansive on the palate, it has still-present, velvety tannins, a layered, mouthcoating texture, and a brilliant finish. Straight-up delicious, this ripe, sexy, oh, so satisfying Pomerol can be drunk any time over the coming 15-20 years with incredible pleasure.Jeb Dunnuck | 97 JDA brick house, with a strong ganache, charcoal and roasted alder spine that remains the dominant feature for now, though there’s ample black currant, plum and raspberry fruit in reserve. Offers a muscular yet racy finish, thanks to a beautiful graphite note that drives through. Though unlikely to surpass them, this will nonetheless give ’09 and ’10 a run for their money. -- Non-blind La Fleur-Pétrus vertical (December 2015). Best from 2020 through 2035. 4,200 cases made.Wine Spectator | 96 WSA beautiful nose of subtle balance. Minerals, stones, raspberries, and plums. The nose has harmony. Full bodied and compacted, this brings a powerful palate and a great deal of finesse to the glass. Incredible purity of fruit, ripe berries, and notes of licorice. Overall this wine is bright and needs 8 to 12 years. Find the wineJames Suckling | 95 JSInitially, this seems soft and superripe. But the acidity that shows through balances the black cherry jam flavors, and the touch of mint gives a delicious edge. The aftertaste brings back juicy, ripe fruit. Wine Enthusiast | 94 WEMedium garnet in color, the 2005 La Fleur-Petrus scoots out of the glass with expressive notes of cigar box, iron ore, and fallen leaves with a beautiful core of dried cherries, prunes, and Chinese five spice. The medium-bodied palate is delicately played, with refreshing red berry and ferrous accents complementing the plum preserves and earthy layers, finishing long and savory.The Wine Independent | 94 TWIThe 2005 Lafleur-Pétrus is a bit awkward at first, but then opens nicely with a few hours of air, showing pretty red berry fruit and floral notes, all supported by veins of minerality that give the wine direction and proportion. This stylish Pomerol has plenty to offer in an understated style that is more finesse than power. I would prefer to drink it sooner rather than later.Vinous Media | 93 VMAbundant sweet cherry and truffle, new saddle leather and spice box notes are present in this medium to full-bodied, supple-textured, silky Pomerol. It is less concentrated than some of the big boys such as Gazin, Le Gay, L’Evangile and Certan de May, but it is an elegant, finesse style of wine to drink over the next 10-15 years.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 92 RP
