Les Pensées, Pomerol, 2022

Name: Les Pensées, Pomerol
Brand: Château Lafleur
Price: 550.37 GBP

Available Vintages

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justerini & brooks tasting note

Pensees hails from a diagonal strip through Lafleur, which lacks the gravel content found in the rest of the vineyard. The predominantly clay terroir lends itself to a more typical style of Pomerol. This was absolutely singing during our tasting and is clearly a very serious and impressive Pensees. The bouquet is sensational. It has all the charm one would expect with a more brooding, crackling character. Notes of leafy cassis, dark cherries, violets and touches of mint and currants. Again, the Cabernet Franc speaks clearly. The palate is voluptuous and graceful with wonderful detail and texture. Impressive as the bouquet and mid-palate are, it is the tannic profile that stands out. Layered and intricate, this finishes with energy, minerality and exceptional length. Outstanding. 57% Merlot and 43% Cabernet Franc.

critic reviews

89/100Chris Kissack,The Wine Independent

The blend is 57% Merlot and 43% Cabernet Franc, and the élevage was in 30% new oak and 70% second-fill oak previously used at Grand Village. A wonderfully open and expressive nose, a light mineral quality, floral and swirled with peony and rose, over a core of tight red berry fruit. A surprisingly restrained character on the palate, with a linear and light mineral style to the start, with a more juicy structure through the middle, with leather red cherry and raspberry fruits, laced with black pepper and toast, with a firm backbone of tannins which persist into the finish. Quite juicy in style, although the structure shifts this from the easy-drinking arena into one where some cellar time is absolutely necessary. Real length here too, albeit rather peppery and warm. The alcohol is 15% on the label, and on analysis is said to be about 14.8%.

DRINKING WINDOW 2026 - 2042

date of review 06/2025

94/100Jane Anson,Inside Bordeaux

A ton of finessed and aromatic floral components to the nose, this has depth, muscular, fennel, bitter aniseed, soy, oyster shell, cassis, and red roses. Plush but intensely constructed tannins, this can be approached relatively soon, although expect it to age well. Harvest 7 and 17 September. Jean-Baptiste Guinaudeau owner and winemaker, 25% new oak.

DRINKING WINDOW 2026 - 2040

date of review 03/2025

93/100Neal Martin,Vinous

The 2022 Les Pensées has a beautifully defined bouquet with blackberry, gravel, black olive and espresso notes that unfurl in the glass. There is marvelous complexity here. The palate is medium-bodied with a grainy texture, gentle but insistent in grip, and hints of dark chocolate manifesting toward the finish that gently fans out. This is a complex and thought-provoking (get it?) Pensées that will age well in bottle.

DRINKING WINDOW 2030 - 2050

date of review 02/2025

94-96/100William Kelley,Robert Parker Wine Advocate

The 2022 Pensees de Lafleur unwinds in the glass with aromas of raspberries, plums, Indian spices, licorice and black truffle, followed by a medium to full-bodied, deep and harmonious palate that's seamless and layered, exhibiting beautiful balance and concluding with a long, perfumed palate. As readers will remember, this cuvee derives 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.

date of review 04/2023