La Fleur Pétrus 2017

A powerful, muscular wine fully representing the slightly more masculine style that the Christian Moueix stable has exhibited over the past few years. This is an estate that has been fascinating to watch develop, as it sets to establish its own identity in the post-Petrus era on this side of the family. Ambitious and well-constructed, it has clear ageing potential. There was no frost here, so they were able to benefit from an early-budding year. That kick of Petit Verdot gives a clear shot of dark, exotic spices through the finish - Christian Moueix was responsible for its addition a few years ago. An excellent La Fleur Pétrus, one of the wines of the vintage in Pomerol.Drinking Window 2025 - 2040

Deepest crimson. Fragrant with pure dark fruit and graphite mineral character. Firm, savoury and dark-suited. Not terribly expressive but beautifully contained and balanced. I love its restraint with fruit at the core. Drink 2025-2035

Brooding black fruits, the nose has depth sweetness the palate the fleshy richness of ripe black plums. The velvety mid suppleness is underpinned by some fresh black fruits good balance with ripe black fruits enriching the finish. 2025-36

This is a very masculine LFP and it has a dark, malevolent side to it which is a little terrifying. The oak and spice are all-consuming and the fruit is doing a great job of managing to keep its head up with all that is going on around it. The balance is amazing considering the dimensions of the tannins and the scale of the acidity and yet this is not a big wine as such. I will be fascinated to see how this wine evolves.

A blend of 93% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot, the medium to deep garnet-purple colored 2017 la Fleur-Petrus is a little youthfully reticent to begin, opening to offer glimpses at kirsch, black raspberries and warm plums plus nuances of potpourri, powdered cinnamon, dusty soil and dried lavender. Medium-bodied, the palate is finely knit and elegant with a firm frame of grainy tannins and fantastic freshness, finishing long and mineral laced. Drink 2022-2049.

The 2017 La Fleur-Pétrus has the most expressive and flamboyant bouquet from the J-P Moueix range and I can see why Edouard Moueix is smitten by its early showings. There is a mélange of red and black fruit, crushed violet and a distant tang of the sea (or should that be the Dordogne river?) The palate is medium-bodied with succulent tannin, quite rich of the vintage but not overpowering or glossy, delivering a velvety smooth second-half that caresses the senses and leaves you utterly beguiled. If am to quibble, it just misses a little complexity and nuance on the finish but otherwise...très bon vin. Drink 2022 - 2045.

This rolls over the palate with dark berries, dark chocolate and hints of cedar. Medium to full body, tight tannins and a lovely tension. Shows finesse and beauty.

A final blend of 91% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot, the very deep garnet-purple colored 2017 la Fleur-Petrus has quite an earthy nose, sporting notions of black soil, mossy bark and truffles over a core of cassis, mulberries and plum preserves plus hints of espresso, anise and peppercorns. Medium to full-bodied, firm, grainy and with great freshness, the sturdy frame supports generous black and blue fruits with earthy accents and fantastic length.All the Ets Jean-Pierre Moueix wines are final blends. According to the company’s president, Christian Moueix, most of their frost damage happened within Lalande de Pomerol. At Château de Bel-Air in Lalande de Pomerol, there is absolutely no production this year. The lower parts of Pomerol are down by around 33%, including Châteaux Plince, Lagrange, Lafleur-Gazin and Bourgneuf.