critic reviews
The 1997 Lafleur shows better than the bottle I tasted in 2018. It has a light bouquet, earthy with undergrowth scents, missing a little vivacity but there is commendable delineation. The palate is admittedly simple but shows a tad more substance than the 75cl bottle, straightforward but undeniably pretty with a dash of cracked black pepper on the finish. Fine. Tasted from ex-château magnum at Kate & Kon's 40-Year vertical in Austria.
The dark ruby-colored 1997 is impossibly tannic, with a tough texture and lean constitution. Paradoxically, the wine has weight, ripeness, and richness, but its dry, astringent finish is reminiscent of a 1998 Medoc. This wine's development is questionable, and I have serious reservations about its ratio of tannin to fruit. It may turn out to be excellent, but patience will be required. Anticipated maturity: 2006-2015.