Les Perrières, 2021
What would the genetics of Lafleur look like planted on the best limestone terroirs of the right bank? This question, born out of an admiration for the wines produced from the limestone Cote of St Emilion became a fascination. Now the Guinaudeaus have three distinct clos, with Bouchet planted on gravel (Lafleur) clay (Les Pensees) and limestone (Les Perrieres). Les Perrieres boasts the highest proportion of Bouchet of all three and has developed a character all of its own. Violets and flowers, high toned and ethereal. Here the limestone provides an energy through the core; a bright fine fruited, linear and long expression. Transparent, precise and with a cerebral strictness, followed by a bright, salty finish and tannins laced with notes of oyster shell, fine pipe tobacco, shaved chocolate and dried cherry. A very elongated expression with real definition and length. Excellent. 38% Merlot and 62% Bouchet (Cabernet Franc).
critic reviews
A blend of 38% Merlot and 62% Cabernet Franc (Bouchet), the 2021 Les Perrieres from Chateau Lafleur has a medium to deep garnet-purple color. It starts off a little shy, soon unfurling to reveal notes of redcurrant preserves, fresh blackberries, and Sichuan pepper, followed by nuances of star anise, underbrush, and wild sage. The medium-bodied palate is very tightly wound, with vibrant red berry and savory layers, framed by fine-grained tannins and great tension, finishing on a lingering, peppery note.
Sculpted cool vintage fruit, with a defined spine, gunsmoke, slate, blueberry and red cherry. High floral aromatics, with grip and salinity. Delivers delicacy and a sense of carefully stepping through the palate, a definite wine to look out for. You have to work a little with it, allow it to open slowly and carefully. Suggest giving a few more years in bottle but it will be worth the wait. From the same team as Château Lafleur in Pomerol.
The 2021 Les Perrières, located on limestone-clay soil, has a very perfumed, aromatic bouquet with iris flower, touches of wild mint and mainly black fruit, perhaps a little Margaux-like in style and finely delineated. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy black fruit. There’s very good weight here. Smooth in texture, a dash of white pepper leads to a very harmonious and persistent finish, containing the sapidity to beckon you back for another sip. This is excellent, but give it one or two years in bottle.
The cooler vintage has lent the 2021 Les Perrieres de Lafleur an even greater sense of transparency than preceding vintages, even if this bottling has always had a remarkably pronounced site signature. Unfurling in the glass with deep aromas of raspberries, plums, Indian spices, burning embers and licorice, it's medium to full-bodied, deep and layered, with beautifully refined tannins, lively acids and an intensely mineral finish.