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Lafleur 1996

RegionBordeaux
Subregion France > Bordeaux > Right Bank > Pomerol
ColourRed
TypeStill
Grape VarietyMerlot/Cabernet Franc

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Label

Tasting Notes

92+
Robert Parker, Bordeaux Book (4), December 2003

As I suspected, the 1996 Lafleur is a painfully backward, austere wine that represents a modern day clone of this estate's 1966. It possesses a backward, tannic, Medoc-like character, with none of Pomerol's hallmark generosity. The wine exhibits a saturated dark purple color, as well as a distinctive mineral, black raspberry, and berry-scented nose with the steely, mineral Lafleur character well-displayed. Powerful, long, and rich, but excruciatingly tannic, this wine may or may not resolve all of its tannin. In short, it is an impressively constituted wine that is no sure thing. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2025.

90
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (122), April 1999

In spite of being made primarily from Cabernet Franc, with little Merlot in the blend, this wine appears to be shaping into form, although it will undoubtedly require 15-20 years of cellaring.
The color is a dense purple, and the wine is austere yet classic. The aromatics consist of cherry and black raspberry fruit intermixed with kirsch, minerals, and truffles. The wine is full-bodied, ferociously tannic, and superbly concentrated, but the searing tannin is likely to scare off all but the most adventurous tasters. This Lafleur will probably age for 50-60 years. But, when will it ever be drinkable ?

90/91+
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (115), February 1998
Please note that these tasting notes/scores are not intended to be exhaustive and in some cases they may not be the most recently published figures. However, we always do our best to add latest scores and reviews when these come to our attention. We advise customers who wish to purchase wines based simply on critical reviews to carry out further research into the latest reports.