Chateau Lafleur - Pensees de Lafleur 2017

JAMES SUCKLING: JAMES SUCKLING:"Deep, dark berries with lots of tree bark, black tea and dark chocolate. Medium-to full-body and enveloped by fine, polished tannins that give it form and focus. Try after 2023, yet very approachable even now."

JEB DUNNUCK: JEB DUNNUCK:"The second wine of Chateau Lafleur which comes from a small, clay-dominated part of the estate vineyard, the 2017 Pensees De Lafleur is 53% Merlot and 47% Bouchet aged 15-16 months in 20-25% new barrels. Its deeper ruby color is followed by a beautiful bouquet of black raspberries, leafy herbs, damp earth, and hints of chocolate as well as a beautiful sense of minerality. Playing in the medium to full-bodied end of the spectrum, it has a gorgeous texture, impressive concentration, fine yet building tannins, and a great finish. The tannins here are brilliant, and this is simply pure class. Drink it over the coming 15-20 years."

FALSTAFF: "Dunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, dezente Randaufhellung, zart nach reifen Pflaumen, ein Hauch von Veilchen, zarter Gewürztouch. Saftig, feine Kirschen, seidige, reife Tannine, sehr gut Struktur, bleibt sehr gut haften, zarter dunkle Nougat im Nachhall. Zum ersten Mal der gleiche Mix von 50/50 Melot und Bouchet wie im Lafleur."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "The 2017 Pensées de Lafleur is a blend of 52% Merlot and 48% Cabernet Franc. Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, it springs from the glass with vivacious scents of exotic spices—cassia, fenugreek, cumin seed and star anise—over a core of black raspberries, wild blueberries and Black Forest cake plus a waft of roses. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is filled with juicy black fruits and loads of spicy sparks, framed by firm, finely grained tannins and a lively backbone, finishing on a lingering iron ore note."

DECANTER: DECANTER:"The 1,500 candles in the vineyards (as with Petrus and VCC) were effective against the frost here, and as with much of the region the water stress was causing concern until rain at the end of June, which got everything growing again. The dry July and August saw no extreme temperatures, certainly more moderate than 2015, and the picking took place over two periods, with the Merlot on 16 September and the Cabernet Franc on 29 September. Those bouncy tannins are really defined, and this is a fairly serious take on Les Pensées de Lafleur, with accentuated power and tension that comes from its 0.69ha of clay soils (compared to the gravels elsewhere in the 4.58ha vineyard). Good persistency, and lovely floral edging."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER:"Floral in nature, maraschino cherries, silky tannins, wet earth and juicy plums come to front promptly. Soft, seductive, sweet and fresh, give this a few years to age so the wine can expand and soften. Made from a blend of 52% Merlot and 48% Cabernet Franc. The harvest took place for the Merlot on September 16 and the Cabernet Franc on September 29."

WEINWISSER: "Rubingranat mit violettem Rand. Dichtes fleischiges Bouquet mit schwarzen Oliven und Eisenkraut, dahinter rotbeerige Konturen. Am kräftigen Gaumen mit fleischiger Struktur und viel Finesse, trotz der dichten Muskeln. Im Finale rote Johannisbeeren und Wacholder. Klasse Zweitwein, der mich bereits im letzten Jahr total begeistert hat!"

JANCIS ROBINSON: JANCIS ROBINSON:"The difference between this and Lafleur is the soil, and nothing else. 0.69 ha (1.7 acres). 52% Merlot, 48% Cabernet Franc (they prefer to call it Bouschet as it is a right-bank selection of Cabernet Franc). Owner and winemaker Baptiste Guinaudeau thinks it is 'less Pomerol' because of the proportions of Merlot and Bouschet, and although the soils are similar to those of La Fleur-Pétrus, he likens the wine to Vieux Château Certan because he thinks it is more serious than in previous vintages. Deep crimson. Some violet on the nose and deep and long on the palate. Less charm and more depth than in previous vintages. But opens up to red fruit. Chewy chocolate texture and a delicious hint of spice – nutmeg? – on the mid palate. Caressing depth of tannin texture. Long as well as deep. (JH)