critic reviews
The 2020 Les Perrières de Lafleur is more backward than the 2019 with blackberry and light estuarine scents plus a dab of shucked oyster shell in the background. The palate is beautifully balanced, gentle but firm in terms of grip, with wonderful poise and density on the finish. This will probably require longer in bottle than the previous vintage, but it will reward the patient. Tasted from ex-château magnum at Kate & Kon's 40-Year vertical in Austria.
Unfurling in the glass with aromas of raspberries and cherries mingled with hints of rose petals and spices, the 2020 Les Perrieres de Lafleur is medium to full-bodied, deep and velvety, with a concentrated core of fruit that's framed by beautifully refined tannins and animated by lively acids, concluding with a long, intensely mineral finish. As readers will remember, this exciting new project derives from holdings on the limestone plateau of Fronsac planted with massal selections from Lafleur.
A blend of 70% Cabernet Franc and 30% Merlot, the 2020 Les Perrieres is deep garnet-purple in color. It needs a fair bit of swirling to unlock earthy/broody scents of tar, black truffles, smoked meats, and crushed rocks, leading to a core of black cherries and stewed plums, plus a waft of chalk dust. The full-bodied palate is wonderfully bright and energetic, featuring vibrant black fruits with great tension and very fine-grained tannins, finishing long and minerally.
Aerian, chalky fine tannins, and a heightened floral edge of peony and violets, caressed by gunsmoke and saffron. This is on the frontier of cool blue fruits, both austere and yet creamy. Brilliant, a wine to settle in for, and watch develop. Harvest September 11 to 19, vines all massal selection from Ch Lafleur, planted in 2016.