Les Perrières (Lafleur) 2020

Unfurling in the glass with aromas of raspberries and cherries mingled with hints of rose petals and spices, the 2020 Les Perrières de Lafleur is medium to full-bodied, deep and velvety, with a concentrated core of fruit that's framed by beautifully refined tannins and animated by lively acids, concluding with a long, intensely mineral finish. As readers will remember, this exciting new project derives from holdings on the limestone plateau of Fronsac planted with massal selections from Lafleur. 2027 - 2055

The 2020 Les Perrières from limestone soils is the first vintage with massal-selection Merlot (from Lafleur). It has an exceptionally pure bouquet of intense black berry and blueberry fruit, crushed stone and touches of Japanese nori. The medium-bodied palate is structured, tensile and very saline, with taut tannins and that limestone-driven pixelation clearly apparent on the finish. Vibrant, almost steely, this will require 2–3 years in bottle.

A blend of 70% Cabernet Franc and 30% Merlot, the 2020 Les Perrieres is deep garnet-purple in color. It needs a fair bit of swirling to unlock earthy/broody scents of tar, black truffles, smoked meats, and crushed rocks, leading to a core of black cherries and stewed plums, plus a waft of chalk dust. The full-bodied palate is wonderfully bright and energetic, featuring vibrant black fruits with great tension and very fine-grained tannins, finishing long and minerally.