Chateau Lafleur - Pensees de Lafleur 2018

JAMES SUCKLING: "Subtle aromas of green olive, blackcurrant and black cherry follow through to a medium to full body with round, polished tannins and a juicy finish. Balanced and refined. Love the undertones of chocolate and hazelnut, too! Try after 2024."

JEB DUNNUCK: "The 2018 Pensées De Lafleur is a blend of close to an even split of Cabernet Franc (54%) and Merlot (46%), and it comes all from a unique vein of more clay soils that run through the heart of the vineyard. Brought up in 25% new French oak, this beautiful, seamless Pomerol stands nicely on its own, offering complex notes of black cherries, framboise, spring flowers, damp earth, spice, sandalwood, and incense. This carries to a full-bodied 2018 with a layered, multi-dimensional texture, ripe, polished tannins, beautiful mid-palate depth, and a great, great finish. It's easy to discount this as a second wine, but that would be a mistake. This is a thrilling bottle that wine readers should snatch up."

WEINWISSER: "Granat mit aufhellendem Rand. Intensive fleischige Noten, dahinter Kräuter und rote Johannisbeeren sowie heller Tabak. Am festen Gaumen mit fleischigem Extrakt und verlangenden Gerbstoffen, hier ist alles am richtigen Platz. Im gebündelten Finale getrocknete Wildkirschen, schwarzer tasmanischer Bergpfeffer und frischer Wacholder. Ein grossartiger Zweitwein, der mich noch nie derart bei einer Primeurs-Verkostung begeistert hat!"

FALSTAFF: "Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Feine Edelholzwürze, schwarze Beerenfrucht, reife Herzkirschen, tabakige Nuancen, facettenreiches Bukett. Komplex, straff und anhaftend, würzige Textur, feste Tannine, mineralisch, feiner Nougat, sehr gute Länge, sicheres Reifepotenzial."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "Composed of 46% Merlot and 54% Cabernet Franc, the medium to deep garnet-purple colored 2018 Pensées de Lafleur bursts with plum preserves and redcurrant jelly scents, giving way to nuances of red roses, dusty soil, bouquet garni and tapenade with a waft of black truffles. The medium to full-bodied palate is oh-so-elegant, featuring very soft tannins and beautifully knit acidity to support the generous black and red fruits, finishing long and earthy. Give it a good 3 years to spread its wings and drink it over the next 15 years or more."

DECANTER: "This is showing a more open aromatic profile at this stage than the Perrières with evident creaminess to the berry fruits and a softness to the tannins. It closes down on the finish, showing the depth and concentration behind the pleasurable opening. As it settles into the glass, a truffled earthiness comes through, along with touches of grilled coffee bean. Overall fairly exuberant at this point although bound to close down for a few years. Drinking Window 2024 - 2036"

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "The strikingly pure kirsch stands out here. It's sweet, ripe and earthy with a hit of dark cocoa on top. In texture, the wine is fresh, sumptuous and polished. Give this few years to age allowing the wine to expand and soften and enjoy it for 10-12 years after that. Made from a blend of 54% Merlot picked September 21 and 46% Cabernet Franc harvested October 4."

JANCIS ROBINSON: "Tasted blind. First bottle TCA. Second bottle: very youthful colour. Some admirable energy here – really pacey! Medium weight and none of the vintage’s excess of (obvious) alcohol or tannin. Rich though on the end. Long, very long."