Les Pensées de Lafleur 2023

The 2023 Pensées de Lafleur has turned out beautifully, wafting from the glass with notes of sweet dark berries mingled with violets, blood orange and hints of truffle. Full-bodied, supple and fleshy, it's deep and complete, with a seamless core of fruit framed by sweet tannins and succulent acids. As I've written before, this cuvée, derived from vines growing in the part of Lafleur's vineyard through which a water course once flowed and where the soils are richer in clay and better hydrated, still lives in the shadow of its grander sibling, but it's a must-purchase for me every year. Drink 2027-2057

The 2023 Les Pensées has quite a discreet bouquet with black plum, wild hedgerow and light violet scents, a little closed but I think because of the weather on that day of tasting. The palate is medium-bodied with crunchy tannins, a fine backbone matched by conspicuous freshness and especially marked sapidity coming through on the finish. Excellent. (Drink between 2027-2042)

Vivid, with a ton of bright raspberry and redcurrant fruits, so much tension and energy, this has a generosity, and a powerful finish, just love it. Unusually high Merlot for Pensees, this combines richly textured body with mouthwatering salinity on the finish, moving through plump and plush black cherry and raspberry fruit with concentrated notes of fennel and mint that raise the game. 40hl/h yield. A one point upscore and it truly deserves every moment you can spend with it. 25% new oak for ageing.

70% Merlot, 30% Bouchet (Cabernet Franc). Cask sample.Round, creamy, suave and pure. Quality of tannin and a certain elegance as well. Already delicious but will hold up for a number of years. (JL) 14.3%Drink 2030 – 2040