Les Perrières (Lafleur) 2019

A striking wine from the limestone plateau of Fronsac planted with massale selections from Lafleur, the 2019 Les Perrières de Lafleur is indecently good. Bursting with aromas of raspberries, violets, warm spices and rose petals, it's full-bodied, deep and concentrated, with a racy, tensile profile and a long, intensely mineral finish. Les Perrières de Lafleur is compelling testimony to the primacy of vine genetics over age, as the Cabernet Franc here is a mere 3-4 years old and the Merlot 7-8, yet the resulting wine already boasts incredible intensity and character. It certainly puts the "Supérieur" in the appellation "Bordeaux Supérieur." Drink Date 2025 - 2055

The 2019 Les Perrières de Lafleur is too oaky on the nose and this masks the terroir expression. The palate is medium-bodied with firm tannins, graphite infused black fruit with a strict and structured finish redeemed by satisfying freshness. A bit "serious" for a Pomerol at this level, but it may surprise with bottle age. Tasted blind at the Southwold annual tasting. Drink 2026-2043.

This is really spicy and fruity with black cherries and flowers on the nose. Hints of stems, too. Medium to full body with really fine tannins and salty and white-pepper character. Spicy and crushed-stone notes. Flavorful finish. Drink or hold.

The 2019 Les Perrieres is an approximate blend of 2/3 Bouchet (Cabernet Franc) and 1/3 Merlot. "This is Lafleur on limestone," commented winemaker Omri Ram. "We produced a near exact copy of Lafleur with cuttings taken from Pomerol. These are now 5- to 10-year-old vines." Deep garnet-purple colored, it needs a little swirling to reveal notes of black raspberries, Morello cherries, and mulberries with suggestions of violets, cumin seed, wild sage, and rosehip tea. Medium-bodied, the palate is lively with crunchy red and black fruits layers framed by very fine-grained tannins and great tension, finishing long and lifted.