Chateau Lafleur 2003

Wine Spectator: "This is a really long wine. It lasts for minutes on the palate. Full and dense yet refined and linear. Very racy, with plum, berry and floral character. Fantastic. No jam here. This is a wine that shows strength but maintains elegance. Superb. Best after 2012. 1,000 cases made."

The Wine Advocate: "The exotic, nearly over the top 2003 exhibits a southern Rhone-like characteristic of kirsch liqueur intermixed with raspberries and flowers. Sweet fruit, high levels of glycerin (the alcohol is less than 13.5%), and high but silky tannins have resulted in a broad, expansive, terrific example of Lafleur that should be at its finest between 2008-2025. Along with Petrus, this stunning, full-bodied 2003 is a candidate for the top wine of Pomerol."

Weinwisser: "51 % Merlot, 49 % Cabernet Franc. Sehr offenes, frisches, hellduftiges Bouquet mit deutlichem Mokkaschimmer, eher schlank und nach Waldhimbeeren duftend. Am Gaumen wie kühle Seide, frisch, elegant und animierend, mit feinem Mineral. Nie und nimmer ein 2003er, würde man denken, doch in heissen Jahrgängen kommen von Lafleur die herrlichsten Weine: keine Riesen, keine Konzentrate, aber unnachahmlich fein und elegant."

Decanter: "From the first minute your nose hovers over the glass, you get a burst of saffron and black pepper spice. This is a different interpretation of Lafleur from the other vintages in the line-up and reveals the fingerprints of a year that was extreme in its heat. A canary in the coalmine for drought-like conditions that have become more common in recent years, but one that here has been tamed by the seductive richness of Lafleur. It doesn't have the length of the 2002 and 2001, but is hugely appealing, with concentrated berry fruit aromatics and a rich, velvety texture. The gravel soils of Lafleur don't retain a ton of water, so they had to work extremely hard to ensure the vines were able to cope, and the higher level of Cabernet Franc in the blend is key to the freshness that is still evident. It opens in the glass to reveal layers of liquorice, chocolate, raspberry coulis and graphite."