2022, Château La Fleur Petrus, POMEROL

Bordeaux Blend: Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot (0.5%)

Run by the Moueix family since the 1950s and produces a wine that is always a classic of the appellation and keenly sought-after. The 2022 blend is 96.5% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 0.5% Petit Verdot.

The high point of the Mouiex portfolio this year is the beautiful 2022 La Fleur-Pétrus, a wine that derives from a number of prime clay-gravel parcels on Pomerol's plateau. Wafting from the glass with aromas of cassis and cherries mingled with hints of orange zest, pencil shavings and toasty oak, it's medium to full-bodied, ripe and fleshy, with an ample core of fruit, ripe tannins and a long, perfumed finish. Seamless and complete, it will offer a broad drinking window. 94-96 William Kelley, Wine Advocate.

Grilled sage and rosemary spice on the aromatics, with rose petals emerging as the frame softens. This is structured and muscular, yet with light let in between the concentrated tannins and heavy black pepper spice. Sweet raspberry fruit also, alongside liqourice and pencil lead, and this clearly has a long life ahead of it. There is vintage imprint here, but also fragrance, grip, juice and velvet texture. 95 Jane Anson.

The 2022 La Fleur-Petrus is deep garnet-purple in colour, the nose is completely locked-down to start, needing a lot of shaking to wake up profound notes of Morello cherries, fresh black plums, and boysenberry preserves, giving way to graceful waves of iron ore and iris scents with a touch of wood smoke. the full-bodied palate is an exercise in finesse, featuring beautifully ripe, silt-like tannins and fantastic freshness, finishing long and minerally. Impressive wine, yet it will require some patient cellaring. 96-98 Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW.

Very structured LFP with black berry, chocolate, walnut and spice character. Full yet fresh with tannic tension and energy in the finish. One for the cellar. 97-98 James Suckling.

Drinking Window: 2030 - 2052