Lafleur 1996

As I suspected, the 1996 Lafleur is a painfully backward, austere wine that represents a modern day clone of this estate's 1966. It possesses a backward, tannic, Medoc-like character, with none of Pomerol's hallmark generosity. The wine exhibits a saturated dark purple color, as well as a distinctive mineral, black raspberry, and berry-scented nose with the steely, mineral Lafleur character well-displayed. Powerful, long, and rich, but excruciatingly tannic, this wine may or may not resolve all of its tannin. In short, it is an impressively constituted wine that is no sure thing. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2025.

In spite of being made primarily from Cabernet Franc, with little Merlot in the blend, this wine appears to be shaping into form, although it will undoubtedly require 15-20 years of cellaring.The color is a dense purple, and the wine is austere yet classic. The aromatics consist of cherry and black raspberry fruit intermixed with kirsch, minerals, and truffles. The wine is full-bodied, ferociously tannic, and superbly concentrated, but the searing tannin is likely to scare off all but the most adventurous tasters. This Lafleur will probably age for 50-60 years. But, when will it ever be drinkable ?