98+

Antonio Galloni

Vinous

The 2020 Lafleur takes all the elements of this site and dials them up. All of the natural richness and textural intensity of the year comes through in a decidedly flamboyant, opulent Lafleur. It's an immediate Lafleur, that much is obvious. I imagine the classic Lafleur bouquet will develop in bottle, as aeration starts to release some of the classic Bouchet (Cabernet Franc) notes that are such signatures. Today, the sumptuousness of Merlot really drives the wines' balance, with the Bouchet felt mostly in the structural profile. I can't wait to see how this ages. 12/2022

98

Neal Martin

Vinous

The 2020 Lafleur is raised in 30% new oak, the rest, for the first time, used at Grand Village for 8 months to reduce the oak influence and season the barrel. (In fact, Jacques Guinaudeau did this in the past). It was bottled in April 2022 after two months settling in large stainless-steel. It has a showstopping nose with stunning delineation and terroir expression. There is a strong mineralité that floods through on the nose, something almost…igneous about the aromas, struck flint and that basalt element that I observed out of barrel. It's a very striking, uncompromising bouquet that expands with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with fine yet sturdy tannins, intense black fruit intermixed with dark chocolate that ebbs with aeration, revealing more floral aromas after 20 minutes. There is a sense of symmetry on the finish and an extraordinary long aftertaste, while all the time, retaining freshness and vitality. Just wonderful. 12/2022

99

William Kelley

Robert Parker/Wine Advocate

One of the wines of the vintage, but likely to prove slower evolving and more introverted than its 2019 counterpart, the 2020 Lafleur unwinds in the glass with aromas of cherries, raspberries, kirsch, black truffle, orange zest and vine smoke. Full-bodied, layered and multidimensional, it's deep and concentrated, with a tightly wound core of fruit framed by rich, powdery tannins, concluding with a long, saline finish. This is another magical bottle from an estate that just seems to do everything right. 04/2023

98

Jean-Marc Quarin

Jean-Marc Quarin

Couleur sombre, intense, pourpre, aux reflets noirs. Nez très aromatique, fin, fruité, mûr, avec une touche fumée évoquant la rive gauche. Nuance de framboise à l’agitation du verre. Bouche tout en fraîcheur heureuse au départ avec immédiatement beaucoup de goût, le vin fond au palais ultra raffiné au toucher, avec une minutie de texture horlogère. Il s’étire longtemps, complexe, délicat, aérien, juteux et tellement subtil, qu’il est difficile à cracher. Assemblage : 54 % merlot, 46 % bouchet. Degré d’alcool : 14°5. pH : 3,77

98

James Suckling

James Suckling

There’s such beautiful clarity to this with freshly crushed grapes, flowers such as violets, and hints of chocolate. Aromatic. Full and linear with refined tannins that give length and focus. Poised. Such brightness. Needs five or six years to show it’s greatness. 05/2023