Lafleur 1993

Exhibiting a dark purple color with an opaque middle, Lafleur's 1993 is structured, tannic, and almost charmless because of its huge power and structure. The wine offers up hints of gorgeously sweet, black-raspberry, kirsch, and truffle aromas, but after that, one has to be content with its unbridled power, medium to full-bodied, layered richness, and ferocious tannin. This is a backward, dense, yet purely made wine. Anticipated maturity : 2005-2020.

The 1993 Lafleur is perhaps my least favourite from the difficult early '90s. This is rather rustic and slightly vegetal on the nose, perhaps from some Cabernet Franc that did not achieve phenolic ripeness. Medium-bodied with stocky and slightly abrasive tannins, this now shows a bit of astringency on the finish. I have fonder memories of this in its youth, so maybe it is just past its best. Tasted from ex-château magnum at Kate & Kon's 40-Year vertical in Austria. (Drink between 2025-2030)

This has always been one of my favourite wines of the vintage. Here it has a consistent nose of mineral-laden black fruit, cedar and tobacco that verges of the Left Bank in style. The palate is very well balanced with crisp, rigid tannins and a pastille-like purity towards the finish that just seems to have mellowed a little. This is a Lafleur that does not make any compromises - it is what it is, come what may. As such, it is one of the most typical Lafleur wines of the 1990s, one that is drinking beautifully now. Tasted December 2013.