Pensées de Lafleur, Pomerol, 2015
Pensees always comes from a 0.5 hectare seam that cuts a diagonal strip across the vineyard. There is a clear dip here, which exposes a more normal Pomerol terroir without the top layer of gravel. Produced from 54% Merlot and 46% Cabernet Franc. For Baptiste, 2015 was the year when Merlots really shone. He can never remember this varietal performing so well. That is not to say the Cabernets are not wonderful too, but the Merlots add a sumptuous quality to the fruit, which is really quite enticing. The bouquet is utterly engaging, boasting a fine loganberry liqueur character, delicate spice, interspersed with floral red berry fruit. Lithe and very seductive; there are multiple layers of salty, mineral infused fruit wrapped in bone china tannins. This has real tension and poise and was hard to spit!
critic reviews
The 2015 Pensées de Lafleur has a clean and precise, mineral-driven bouquet that is razor-sharp. It feels tightly wound but the focus is certainly here. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grained tannin, plenty of cedar and tobacco-tinged black fruit with a truffle and smoke infused finish that feels very long. Excellent. Tasted blind at the Southwold 2015 Bordeaux tasting.
The 2015 Pensees de Lafleur is medium garnet-purple colored with a stunning nose of crushed black cherries, cassis and red currant jelly with lavender, charcuterie and truffles notions plus a waft of tobacco. The palate is medium to full-bodied with firm, chewy tannins and good concentration, finishing long and earthy.