2009 Chateau Lafleur Pomerol

Vinous Media (VM)

Medium-deep ruby. The complex, captivating nose shows a prominent cabernet franc presence, with enticing aromas of strawberry, violet, cocoa, minerals and white pepper. Enters broad, luscious and fresh, displaying well-delineated flavors of sweet redcurrant and strawberry complemented by a note of spicy red cherry reduction sauce and more white pepper. Boasts an amazingly rich and tactile mouth feel and comes across as far smoother than the estate's second wine Pensees de Lafleur, which showed quite a bit of tannins for its fruit. Finishes with palate-staining persistence and great purity and precision. One of the masterpieces of the vintage. I also tasted in this cellar in December, and the uncanny quality of the cabernet franc was already apparent.

Wine Spectactor (WS)

This gushes with mouthwatering blueberry, boysenberry and blackberry fruit, leading to a long black tea- and incense-filled finish. Darkens up considerably as it airs, with layers of extra flesh, Kenya AA coffee and charcoal notes striding through the finish. Shows an exotic side, and gorgeous mouthfeel. Best from 2015 through 2030.

Wine Advocate (WA)

An absolutely prodigious blend of 55% Cabernet Franc and 45% Merlot, the 2009 Lafleur displays the tell-tale characteristics of this great estate. Kirsch liqueur, licorice and floral notes are intermixed with raspberry in a very full-bodied, super-intense, opulent and multi-dimensional style. Extraordinarily dense and pure, but not heavy by any means, the intensity, texture, and richness of the 2009 Lafleur are reminiscent of the perfect 1982. Anticipated maturity: 2018-2040.