2014, Château Lafleur, POMEROL

Bordeaux Blend: Cabernet Franc, Merlot.

The 2014 Lafleur has a tightly wound bouquet with earthy, truffle tinged black fruit, hints of dried blood and black truffle developing with time in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin encasing a sweet core of candied red fruit. The Merlot is very expressive here and offers more brightness than many of its Pomerol peers, which is unusual for a Pomerol so saturnine in its youth. Just beautiful. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting. 95 Neal Martin, Vinous (2018).

The 2014 Lafleur is dark, intense and also wonderfully vivid in the glass. A wine of restraint and total finesse, it will need at least a few years to start coming into its own. Today, it is the wine's persistence and overall harmony that really stand out. There is a level of translucence and energy in the 2014 that is utterly captivating. The blend is 56 % Cabernet Franc and 44 % Merlot, with the Franc super-expressive at this stage. Silky tannins add to the wine's pure appeal. Even at this early stage, the 2014 is brilliant. 95+ Antonio Galloni, Vinous (2017).

A stunning rich purple. The nose is spicy, cedar and black pepper with an obvious Cabernet Franc edge (it makes up 55% of the blend now in bottle). The attack is intense, with black olives, tapenade, raspberry leaf, bristling with intent. There is a juicy tension to the structure that creates a sense of drama. It holds itself back for a moment, and then lets go with a striking clarity of fruit. Right now the conversation is dominated by the Cabernet, but the beauty of Lafleur is that you just have to slowly allow the conversation with the Merlot to open up over time, until the violet-tinged Pomerol heart of the wine takes over. 98 Jane Anson, Decanter.

My Right Bank wine of the vintage, along with Ausone (St-Emilion). 56% Cabernet Franc, 44% Merlot. Depth, complexity and finesse. Marked by the Cabernet Franc. Very fine tannins. Beautiful texture. Finesse and disguised power. Considerable ageing potential. Fresh, long, persistent finish. 95 James Lawther MW, Decanter.

Drinking Window: 2024 - 2050