| Region | |
|---|---|
| Subregion | France > Bordeaux > Bordeaux (Red) |
| Colour | Red |
| Type | Still |
This wine used to be called the "Acte" series. The grapes are grown in Fronsac at the family home of the Guinaudeau family (owners of Lafleur). Made in a 3 hectare vineyard from 51% Bouchet (a clone of Cabernet Franc) and 49% Merlot
The 2022 Les Perrières de Lafleur is the broadest, most unctuous rendition of this wine to date, but it retains its taut, minerally identity for all that. Offering up aromas of mulberries, violets and pen ink, it's medium to full-bodied, rich and incisive, with terrific depth and persistence. As readers will remember, Les Perrières derives from parcels situated on the higher-altitude plateau of Fronsac, planted with vine material from Château Lafleur. 2030 - 2055
So much sea-salt and chalkboard character with blue fruit and dark earth. Full-bodied yet chewy and linear with excellent length and intensity. 50% merlot and 50% cabernet franc.
A blend of 50% Merlot and 50% Bouchet (Cabernet Franc), Les Perrieres 2022 from Lafleur is deep garnet-purple in color. It skips out with bright, cheery scents of kirsch, fresh blackberries, and redcurrant jelly, leading to suggestions of rosehip tea, iron ore, and tilled soil, with an exotic touch of cardamom. The medium to full-bodied palate is taut and muscular, featuring a lively backbone and grainy tannins to support the vibrant red and black fruits, finishing long and chalky.
Gorgeous limestone focus, with liquorice bud, raspberry leaf, and clear verticality just in the aromatics. Pulses of electricity, blueberry and steel, mouthwatering and salivating, finessed tannins, a ton of lift, exciting to see how this ages. A wine that begs you to geek out, and you are only too happy to do so. Harvest 9 and 22 September, vines on 3.6ha of limestone plateau (the Lafleur team now has 15ha of land there, with more planted last year so now 5.2ha planted, waiting for production in 2027). 33% new oak for ageing.
50% Bouchet (Cabernet Franc), 50% Merlot. Cask sample.
Marked by the chalky, limestone terroir and fragrance and structure of the Bouchet. Fresh and floral. Firm but refined tannins. Saline note on the finish. (JL) 14.3%
Drink 2028– 2038
The 2022 Les Perrières de Lafleur shows just how adapted this higher-altitude site on the plateau of Fronsac is to warmer vintages. Wafting from the glass with aromas of mulberries and raspberries, sweet spices and rose petals, it's medium to full-bodied, deep and layered, with racy acids and a taut, mineral profile. It's another brilliant effort from this visionary project.
Vitality, freshness, grip and length, this is an unusual interpretation of the vintage, reflecting not only the limestone soils on this spot located in the Fronsac area (although not bottled under the AOC), but also the deft viticulture and winemaking that you find from the Guineaudeau family, and the high percentage of Cabernet Franc in the blend. The colour is still hitting the inky depths that you find everywhere in this year, but a blue fruit and steel character greets you on the opening, and the tannins are finely boned, leading to a saline signoff. Continues to prove that Les Perrières is one of the most interesting new ventures in the region. 33% new oak.
