Lafleur 2001

The 2001 Lafleur was tasted directly from bottle with Baptiste Guinaudeau. Opens gradually on the nose with brambly red fruit, black truffle, mint and touches of iron and sage. The palate is medium-bodied with firm, grippy tannins; it's very ferrous in style, and the Cabernet Franc is in the driving seat. A little savoury towards the finish, with residues of black pepper and white pepper towards the finish.

Performing slightly less impressively from bottle than it did from cask, this wine’s Cabernet Franc element has come forward, revealing a distinctive herbal, bell pepper, vegetal character that kept my score from going higher. Nevertheless, there is plenty to like about this 2001 Pomerol. It possesses a saturated ruby/purple color, powerful aromas (kirsch liqueur, raspberries, and blackberries), an earthy, muscular, chunky character, and the most tannic personality of any Pomerol I tasted. While not the huge blockbuster Lafleur can often produce, it is well-built. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2019.

Fabulous. Long and enticing on the palate. Shows wonderful promise.

Rich and velvety look. Warm and rich on the nose. Very sweet and consoling. Round and gentle – caressing. Slightly dry tannins on the finsh so that the whole effect is slightly ungainly but certainy rewarding in a hot chocolate sort of way.