Pensées de Lafleur, Pomerol, 2016

Name: Pensées de Lafleur, Pomerol
Brand: Château Lafleur
Price: 887.12 GBP

Available Vintages

all 2011 2012 2015 2016 2017

justerini & brooks tasting note

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 55% Merlot and 45% Cabernet Franc. This is a real mini-Lafleur - it really is such an aristocratic and finely textured wine. Initially floral with a glorious Cabernet character, cloves, tayberry, Goji and delicate minerals. The fruit is very fluid and has wonderful cohesion; vivid, savoury and red fruited. What a sleek and sophisticated Pensees that grows in stature and develops in the glass - we're sure there is much more to come. Bravo!

critic reviews

94/100Lisa Perrotti-Brown,The Wine Independent

While Lafleur is based on the gravel soils in Pomerol, Pensees de Lafleur is made from the vines on clay. The 2016 Pensees has 55% Merlot and 45% Cabernet Franc giving a deep garnet color, with a touch of purple. It delivers head-turning scents of preserved plums, boysenberries, and chocolate-covered cherries, leading to hints of crushed rocks, star anise, and fertile loam. Full-bodied, the palate delivers layer upon layer of black fruits and mineral accents, supported by ripe, rounded tannins, finishing long with loads of mineral and exotic spice sparks.

DRINKING WINDOW 2023 - 2040

date of review 12/2022

93/100Neal Martin,Vinous

The 2016 Les Pensées de Lafleur has a lively, tertiary bouquet, a little leafy in style, with more expressive Cabernet Franc evident here. The medium-bodied, lightly spiced palate features supple tannins and a dash of white pepper. Tapers slightly, although I believe it is entering a closed phase and just needs time. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting.

DRINKING WINDOW 2022 - 2042

date of review 08/2020

93/100Lisa Perrotti-Brown,Robert Parker Wine Advocate

Blended of 55% Merlot and 45% Cabernet Franc, the medium to deep garnet-purple colored 2016 Pensees de Lafleur opens with bold, tantalizing notes of crushed black cherries, wild blueberries and plum preserves with hints of kirsch, violets, dark chocolate and licorice with a waft of forest floor. Medium-bodied, the palate is amazingly elegant for the intensity of fruit with beautifully ripe, finely grained tannins and fantastic freshness, finishing long and layered.

DRINKING WINDOW 2021 - 2038

date of review 11/2018