2017 Chateau Lafleur, Pomerol 1×1.5L

Vinous 97

The 2017 Lafleur is a stupendous wine for the vintage. It has retained a deep, almost opaque hue. The bouquet is intense for the vintage with copious black fruit intermixed with black olive and sea spray scents. There is an openness about this Pomerol that I appreciate. The palate is medium-bodied with black fruit and mulberry, the texture a little softer than previous bottles which lends a little more sensuality. I adore the untrammelled marine/estuarine influence on the finish, which is moderate rather than exceptionally long with insistent grip. Superb, but afford it another two or three years. Tasted from ex-château magnum at Kate & Kon’s 40-Year vertical in Austria. [Neal Martin, 09/01/2025]

Anticipated maturity: 2028-2055

Robert Parker 98

Composed of 52% Cabernet Franc and 48% Merlot, the 2017 Lafleur displays a deep garnet-purple color. It slowly unfurls in the glass to reveal a profound nose of plum preserves, mulberries, boysenberries and licorice with nuances of grilled meats, black truffles, cast-iron pan and crushed rocks plus fragrant wafts of cinnamon stick and violets. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is charged with fantastically energetic black and blue fruits, framed by super-ripe, finely grained tannins and seamless freshness, finishing with epic length. At this stage of the game, qualitatively the 2017 Lafleur is one to two ticks short of where the 2015 and 2016 vintages are. This said, I’m anticipating there are a lot of latent nuances here waiting to emerge, snuggly filling this substantial structure over the next decade. It should be quite delicious in 6-8 years, but I’d give it 10-15 at least for maximum impact. [Lisa Perrotti-Brown, 03/12/2020]

Anticipated maturity: 2028-2065

JancisRobinson.com 17.5++

Tasted blind. Deep ruby colour. Dense and brooding on the nose, dark fruited with hints of incense. The palate is highly polished in fruit but bold in structure, chewy tannins persist from start to finish. Star anise and sweeter liquorice together with cedar in spice profile, this fights with the fruit for dominance but the balance is just about there. A raw, youthful and muscular style – wine that should be cellared and forgotten for a while. (TP) [09/15/2021]

Anticipated maturity: 2028-2043