© 2003-2008 I.Litwar

Sylvie & Jacques Guinaudeau, who now own Château Lafleur. Please notice the very stony surface of Lafleur's vineyard.

There's nothing glamorous over Lafleur, but the wine is phenomenal.

Pomerol is situated around 50 km east of Bordeaux city, between Libourne in south, Isle river and motorway N10 in west, Saint-Emilion district in east and Barbanne (tiny tributary to Isle river) in north. Commonly, Pomerol’s placement on the map is described as Right Bank, because Dordogne river runs several kilometres along the southwestern side of the district on its way to Gironde, meaning Pomerol "looks" at Dordogne river from Right Bank of it. Because of its small size, Pomerol has got an affectionate nickname “Bordeaux’ little garden” - this district it's just 4 km long and 3 km wide!

It’s in eastern part of Pomerol, that you find many famous names. This area is app. 900 meters wide and circle shaped plateau in east-Pomerol, close to the border of Saint-Emilion. This plateau, which by the way is the highest point in Pomerol Pomerol (app. 40 meters above sea level), has got nickname "Le Plateau Argileux" Surface of the soil in the plateau is a deep layer of gravel mixed with clay and some sand. Subsoil here and many other places in Pomerol has a very interesting and distinctive composition, and is only to be found in Pomerol and therefore not widely known. It consists of the so-called "crasse de fer" and clay. "Crasse de fer" is iron dirt or more precisely a kind of very firm and stony blend of earth and metal with high content of iron-oxide, which gives the wines a very characteristic flavour of something fat and metallic, which many associate with truffles.

Lafleur enjoys perfect location within ”Le Plateau Argileux”. Lafleur has varying blend of big and small stones plus sand on the surface. Subsoil here varies too between ”crasse de fer” mixed with gravel or sand in different proportions. This composition of soil surface and subsoil is strongly contributing to, that cépage at Lafleur is Merlot and Cabernet Franc in ratio 50:50.

Lafleur is the only property in Pomerol, which has so much Cabernet Franc in its wine. The vineyard is 4,5 ha big, vines are on average over 30 years old and wine stays 18-20 months in 33-50% new barrels. Jacques Guinaudeau together with his wife Sylvie has been at Lafleur since 1985 and acquired full control of Lafleur in 2005.

Jacques Guinaudeau is perfectionist to the outmost of fingernails. The vineyard is painfully clean, every single vine receives loving care and the wine has a “print” of soil and the winemaker. He uses modern techniques within vinification with outmost care and sensibility. He harvests late but not too late – grapes should be perfectly ripe and not end overripe á la marmalade.

Unlike for instance. traditionally made Pétrus, malolactic fermentation (malic acid is converted to lactic acid and wine gets rid of excess of acid it doesn’t need) takes place at Lafleur in barrels (instead of stainless-steel vats) to give wine more aroma, mere breed and more strings to play on.

Lafleur 2007 (barrel sample) 92p

Tasted in April 2008. It tasted a bit tight but with splendid force of black cherries beautifully balanced by silky fat tannin, stunning structure and long finish.

Lafleur 2006 (barrel sample) 95p

Tasted twice - last time in October 2007. Consistent notes. It possessed hugely aromatic nose of dark berries like blueberries and blackberries, was full-bodied, refined and had large amount of ripe tannin, with lovely balance and multilayered. Fabulous wine, even if it's not as breathtaking as 2005 version.

Lafleur 2005 (barrel sample) 99-100p

Tasted four times - last time in April 2007. Consistent notes. You hear angels sing! 2005 will be worthy rival to the unforgettable 2000 vintage, with its silky ”look” and depth it posesses.  Breathtaking richness and refinement. It's incredibly multidimensional and amazingly beautiful wine. A true legend in making.

Lafleur 2004  95p

Tasted three times - last time in April 2007 when in bottle. Consistent notes. 60% Merlot + 40% Cabernet Franc. Dense dark red. Beautiful and sensual aromas of black fruit, very deep and intense, silky tannins, very powerful and long, and sophisticated. Exceptional wine.

Lafleur 2003 92p

Tasted in April 2004. 50% Merlot and 50% Cabernet Franc. Very complex and intense nose of extremely ripe fruit, quite spicy and with touch of heat. Splendidly structured and balanced wine, full-bodied and verylong on the palate. Exotic. Jacques Guinaudeau isn't sure how this wine will develop in the future.

Lafleur 2002 93p

Tasted twice - last time in April 2006. Consistent notes. 60% Merlot + 40% Cabernet Franc. Wonderfully aromatic and catchy nose, elegant on the palate with round tannins. Splendid structure and long aftertaste. Not as exciting as 2001, but who really cares. Excellent wine for the vintage.

Lafleur 2001 97p

Tasted  6 times - last time in April 2008. Consistent notes. 60% Merlot + 40% Cabernet Franc. This vintage has always been one of my favorite Lafleurs. It's simply outstanding, improves all the time, and is just a little behind in quality compared with 2000 vintage. What a complexity, nuance richness and depth. Incredibly fine berry aromas. Simply outstandingly wonderful wine!!!

Lafleur 2000 100p

Tasted 6 times - last time in April 2006. Consistent notes. A monumental piece of phenomenal winemaking! It is extremely rarely, that you taste so complete wine. All ingrediences match each other perfectly. Incredibly aromatic, enormously concentrated and with heavenly balance. Merlot and Cabernet Franc perform a stunningly beautiful dance here. For me, this wine is among top three wines in Bordeaux in this vintage. A pure legend and one being able to last for at least half a century!

Lafleur 1999 93p

Tasted twice - last time in April 2006.  Consistent notes. Very complete wine with exquisite complexity and finesse. Well-balanced and well-put together, splendid depth and soft aftertaste. Stunning wine for the vintage, which should keep well for 10-15 years.

Lafleur 1998 94p

Tasted twice - last time in April 2006. Consistent notes. Deep red.  Seemed quite closed but with lot ripe fruit and fat tannins, strong structure and long aftertaste. We have to wait 4-6 years for this wine to open up.

Lafleur 1997 89p

Tasted twice - last time in April 2006. Consistent notes. On the light and elegant side with fruity nose of raspberries. Quite well-defined on the palate with good structure and length. Will mature rather quickly, which means 6-8 years.

Lafleur 1964 97p

Tasted in May 2006. Original château bottling. Simply wonderfully parfumed and exciting wine! Truffles and cherries everywhere. Incredibly refined and sophisticated with perfect balance and exquisite structure. Long and lingering aftertaste. Simply breathtaking wine for a 42 years old one!

Lafleur's second wine, Pensées de Lafleur, represents very fine value for the money. The vintages listed were tasted in April 2006, April 2007 and April 2008

Pensées de Lafleur 2007 (barrel sample) 87p

Tasted in April 2008. It had dark red colour, was very fine on the nose with intense black cherries. Meaty on the palate, medium weight, round and with silky tannins. Pretty nice wine for the vintage.

Pensées de Lafleur 2006 (barrel sample) 89p

Pensées de Lafleur 2005 91-92p

Pensées de Lafleur 2004 90p (60% Merlot + 40% Cabernet Franc)

Pensées de Lafleur 2003 89p (100% Merlot)

Pensées de Lafleur 1998 89p

Pensées de Lafleur 1997 86p 

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