96 Robert Parker
Tasted with Baptiste Guinaudeau, the 2008 Lafleur is a wine for which I have a lot of time, and as it approaches a decade old, it is beginning to loosen up a little. There is plenty of fruit on the nose—more than I have encountered on previous bottles, with a mixture of red and black fruit—and a hint of bell pepper and sage. The main difference is that those previously rigid tannin have loosened their collar in recent months; therefore, this Lafleur is now entertaining the notion of drinkability. There remains a linearity to this Lafleur—and there is still that backbone—yet it seems to flow nicely across the mouth, and there is superb mineralité on the finish. It's probably destined to be overshadowed by the succeeding two vintages, but I suggest you do not overlook the 2008 Lafleur.
96 Vinous
<br/>The 2008 Lafleur is a wine that I have tasted several times. It mirrored my previous encounters. There is still impressive fruit concentration on the nose, equally distributed between red and black, a hint of clove and just a touch of Italian delicatessen emanating from the Cabernet Franc. The palate has just melted a little since its obdurate infancy, although it is still quite linear and "strict". You might argue that the 2008 Lafleur is a little charmless at the moment, but bottle age will sculpt and abrade this Pomerol into a very fine, if slightly aloof wine. (This was not shown at BI Wine & Spirit’s horizontal but a bottle was opened at a private dinner when I was in Bordeaux a few days earlier.)
96 Robert Parker
Tasted with Baptiste Guinaudeau, the 2008 Lafleur is a wine for which I have a lot of time, and as it approaches a decade old, it is beginning to loosen up a little. There is plenty of fruit on the nose—more than I have encountered on previous bottles, with a mixture of red and black fruit—and a hint of bell pepper and sage. The main difference is that those previously rigid tannin have loosened their collar in recent months; therefore, this Lafleur is now entertaining the notion of drinkability. There remains a linearity to this Lafleur—and there is still that backbone—yet it seems to flow nicely across the mouth, and there is superb mineralité on the finish. It's probably destined to be overshadowed by the succeeding two vintages, but I suggest you do not overlook the 2008 Lafleur.
96 Vinous
<br/>The 2008 Lafleur is a wine that I have tasted several times. It mirrored my previous encounters. There is still impressive fruit concentration on the nose, equally distributed between red and black, a hint of clove and just a touch of Italian delicatessen emanating from the Cabernet Franc. The palate has just melted a little since its obdurate infancy, although it is still quite linear and "strict". You might argue that the 2008 Lafleur is a little charmless at the moment, but bottle age will sculpt and abrade this Pomerol into a very fine, if slightly aloof wine. (This was not shown at BI Wine & Spirit’s horizontal but a bottle was opened at a private dinner when I was in Bordeaux a few days earlier.)
18 Rene Gabriel
Sattes Purpur mit rubinem, aufhellendem Rand. Verhaltenes, mineralisches Bouquet, blumige Noten, würziger Cabernet-Franc-Touch der sich mit Preisel- und roten Johannisbeeren vermischt, ein Hauch Zitronenmelisse darüber zeigend. Im Gaumen fest, fleischig, kernig und ziemlich streng, verlangende Adstringenz, zeigt momentan mehr Muskeln als Fleisch. Erst in 15 Jahren wird sich hier genau zeigen, ob er in diesem Jahrgang bei den ganz grossen Pomerol mithalten kann. Potentialwertung:
18 Rene Gabriel
Sattes Purpur mit rubinem, aufhellendem Rand. Verhaltenes, mineralisches Bouquet, blumige Noten, würziger Cabernet-Franc-Touch der sich mit Preisel- und roten Johannisbeeren vermischt, ein Hauch Zitronenmelisse darüber zeigend. Im Gaumen fest, fleischig, kernig und ziemlich streng, verlangende Adstringenz, zeigt momentan mehr Muskeln als Fleisch. Erst in 15 Jahren wird sich hier genau zeigen, ob er in diesem Jahrgang bei den ganz grossen Pomerol mithalten kann. Potentialwertung:
91 Wine Spectator
A bright, fresh, very pure style, with raspberry and bitter cherry fruit flavors laced with judicious toast and a streak of red licorice. The nicely fleshy finish puts on weight as it airs in the glass, developing alluring notes of black tea and incense. Drink now through 2019. — JM
91 Wine Spectator
A bright, fresh, very pure style, with raspberry and bitter cherry fruit flavors laced with judicious toast and a streak of red licorice. The nicely fleshy finish puts on weight as it airs in the glass, developing alluring notes of black tea and incense. Drink now through 2019. — JM
