Château Lafleur, Pomerol,

Lafleur 2017 is a blend of 51% Merlot and 49% Cabernet Franc and has a medium to deep garnet-purple color. It is very closed to begin with, slowly unfurling to reveal the most gorgeous floral notes of roses, lavender, star anise, and charcuterie with a waft of crushed rocks. The full-bodied palate knocks your socks off with the most beautiful, slow-releasing layers in the mouth, framed by super-plush tannins and just enough freshness, finishing with incredible length and spiciness.

The 2017 Lafleur is very deep, almost opaque in colour. This has a very intense bouquet that clearly shrugs of any risk of frost to produce copious black fruit laced with white pepper, clove, truffle and crushed stone. It actually seems to close in a little with aeration instead of opening up. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins, very fresh and certainly very mineral-driven. A pixelated but "serious" finish suggests as usual, this is a long-term Pomerol. Baptiste Guinaudeau has overseen one of the wines of the vintage.