James Suckling (96-97)

Firm and layered with very fine tannins and impressive blackberry, dark chocolate and spice character, yet it is very reserved and beautiful. Medium to full body. Refined tannins and a savory finish. A sleek and linear beauty. Terrific potential here.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (96)

The 2023 La Violette is terrific. Ample and explosive, La Violette dials up an exotic mix of inky dark fruit, licorice, lavender, chocolate and leather. Fermentation and aging in barrel exalts textural nuance. As always, La Violette represents an especially opulent style within Bordeaux.

Decanter (98)

The depth and concentration of the vintage meant that Lafleur remained fiercely closed for a number of years, emphasising even more than usual how different it is from many of its Pomerol siblings. Today it is uncurled and impossible to ignore. Still an intellectual take on this most exceptional of Pomerol vintages, complex and subtle with wisps of cold ash and flint against a richer blackberry cushion of fruit, richly textured but still firmly in control. Now inching towards its full expression, tantalisingly close and sure to deliver this level of brilliance for decades to come. 50% new oak.

Vinous - Neal Martin (93)

The 1999 Lafleur flies under the radar between the feted 1998 and 2000 vintages. However, it should not be under-estimated. It has a lucid deep color. The bouquet is not dissimilar to the previous bottle tasted in 2012, blessed with pure blackberry and briary scents, hints of gravel that render it not a million miles away from a Left Bank. The palate is very well balanced and seems silkier than ever. Whilst it does not possess the mineral core of the 1998, it has a disarmingly pure and graceful finish. Whilst not a Lafleur of immense length or grandeur it is approachable and beautifully crafted. Tasted at the “International Wine & Business” Lafleur dinner at Ten Trinity, London.

Vinous - Neal Martin (93)

The 1999 Lafleur flies under the radar between the feted 1998 and 2000 vintages. However, it should not be under-estimated. It has a lucid deep color. The bouquet is not dissimilar to the previous bottle tasted in 2012, blessed with pure blackberry and briary scents, hints of gravel that render it not a million miles away from a Left Bank. The palate is very well balanced and seems silkier than ever. Whilst it does not possess the mineral core of the 1998, it has a disarmingly pure and graceful finish. Whilst not a Lafleur of immense length or grandeur it is approachable and beautifully crafted. Tasted at the “International Wine & Business” Lafleur dinner at Ten Trinity, London.

Vinous - Neal Martin (100)

The 2000 Lafleur is a benchmark wine that prefigures the estate's wines in the 21st century. Though I have tasted it a dozen or so times from bottle, this was my first time in magnum…and what a wine! Showing only modest bricking at its rim, the nose is a symphony of aromas, an aromatic Pandora's Box: blackberry, wild hedgerow, black truffle, pencil box and gravel give way to more red fruit and rose petals. The palate has a heavenly balance with perfectly pitched acidity that effortlessly counterbalances the sheer weight and density of this wine. Previous examples have warned me away from cracking this open, but despite its larger format, this example is the first that entertains the notion of drinkability. That said, the 2000 is clearly a Pomerol that will span decades. The grandeur of this Lafleur is entrancing. Tasted from ex-château magnum at Kate & Kon's 40-Year vertical in Austria.

Wine Spectator (95-100)

This is seductive. Opulent aromas of chocolate, berry, plum and minerals. Full-bodied, with a fabulous concentration of fruit and supersilky tannins. This is the best wine of Pomerol and one of the most beautiful of 2003. Really exciting. Score range: 95-100

Wine Spectator (95-100)

Fascinating aromas of plums, dried flowers and hints of toasty oak. Full-bodied and muscular, with a long finish. Very, very impressive. Racy and well-toned for the vintage. Very well structured. Score range: 95-100

Wine Spectator (95-100)

Fascinating aromas of plums, dried flowers and hints of toasty oak. Full-bodied and muscular, with a long finish. Very, very impressive. Racy and well-toned for the vintage. Very well structured. Score range: 95-100

Jeb Dunnuck (100)

An absolute monster of a wine, the 2005 Château Lafleur is epitome of this vintage with its dense, massive style. A blend of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc, its deep plum hue is followed by a rich, powerful, full-bodied Lafleur that has lots of ripe currant and darker, smoky black fruits as well as notes of scorched earth, saddle leather, and flowers. It has a stacked mid-palate, an inward, concentrated mouthfeel, ripe yet still present tannins, and a great finish. It’s still in need of another 5-7 years, if not a decade of bottle age, and will probably see its 100th birthday in fine form.

Vinous - Neal Martin (96)

The 2008 Lafleur is the surprise of the evening, and on this occasion, it had the audacity to outflank the 2009. Vivid blackberry, clove and crushed stone spring from the glass, bright and almost effervescent compared to the 2009. The palate has exquisite balance and poise, concentrated and structured yet more linear on the finish than the 2010. It gains persistency with aeration. Tasted from ex-château magnum at Kate & Kon's 40-Year vertical in Austria.

Vinous - Neal Martin (96)

The 2008 Lafleur is the surprise of the evening, and on this occasion, it had the audacity to outflank the 2009. Vivid blackberry, clove and crushed stone spring from the glass, bright and almost effervescent compared to the 2009. The palate has exquisite balance and poise, concentrated and structured yet more linear on the finish than the 2010. It gains persistency with aeration. Tasted from ex-château magnum at Kate & Kon's 40-Year vertical in Austria.

Vinous - Neal Martin (96)

The 2008 Lafleur is the surprise of the evening, and on this occasion, it had the audacity to outflank the 2009. Vivid blackberry, clove and crushed stone spring from the glass, bright and almost effervescent compared to the 2009. The palate has exquisite balance and poise, concentrated and structured yet more linear on the finish than the 2010. It gains persistency with aeration. Tasted from ex-château magnum at Kate & Kon's 40-Year vertical in Austria.

James Suckling (100)

This is a crazy nose of tangerines and blueberries, with raspberries and mushroom and berries. Full-bodied, with ultra fine tannins. This wine is all about texture, with phenomenal tannins and subtle fruits that just make you think. Evocative. It is layered, yet changes all the time. I can't believe it really. Speechless. Amazes me. Try in 2020.