Description

JA98 “This captures the magic of Lafleur and is utterly moreish. It is so silky, with hints of truffle, tobacco and sweet blackberry fruits from the first sip, opening up to violet flowers and drawn-out finely spun tannins. It’s at a beautiful moment for drinking now, but clearly has a long life ahead of it. 2001 was a vintage that suited the Merlot grape and tasting this as a pairing with the 2002 is a brilliant way to explore the two sides of Lafleur’s personality. The vintage was not released en primeur as it came along during the handover of ownership from the Robins to the Guinaudeaus, which is why there is still wine at the estate to share during the vertical.” JA for DR Nov 2019

DR98 “2001 was a late harvest whose reputation suffered from coming after the millennium vintage. As a result, it deserves to be re-appraised for its quality. Seventeen years on, the Lafleur 2001 is still developing greater levels of complexity and has yet to reach its peak. It has a deep colour and gorgeous aromatics of blackberry and book leather. There’s a gourmand depth and freshness to this wine, but it doesn’t lose its beautiful sense of balance. The tannins are round, dense and generous, and this is still youthful, with ripe cherry and damson fruits, a seam of graphite, and notes of sandalwood and pencil lead leading onto a long, dry and savoury finish. Very correct and classical, but also super suave and sexy, with everything in place for the long haul.” JS for DR May 2018