Château Lafleur - Les Pensées 2022

The story of Château LaFleur starts with Henri Greloud, who owned Château Le Gay and was the first to produce single-vineyard wines in Pomerol. In 1872, he purchased one plot of 4.5 hectares of vines and began a complete restructuring of the vineyard, built the house and the cellars and called this place: Lafleur.  In 1930s, Andre Robin worked to develop Bouchet (Cabernet Franc) massale in the vineyards. Their daughters, Therese and Marie Robin took over after Andre’s death in 1946 and kept things relatively the same for almost 40 years until 1984 when Jacques and Sylvie Guinaudeau, the great, great-grandchildren of Henri Greloud made arrangements to lease Chateau Lafleur from Marie Robin, the surviving sister. They got to work in 1985, replanting a quarter of the vines, and, when Marie Robin passed away, the Guinaudeaus sold their rights to Le Gay for afford the full ownership of Lafleur in 2002. Later that year, Baptiste Guinaudeau (son to Jacques and Sylvie) and his wife Julie joined them at Chateau Lafleur.

60% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Franc (Bouchet) Produced since 1987, this cru reveals a different geological expression of the vineyard of Lafleur, translated through the great clay terroir of Pomerol instead of Lafleur’s mighty gravel. This small 0.7 hectare parcel is is at the center of the Lafleur property with deeper soils ranging from sandy silt to clay and brown sand and less gravel - richer and deeper, and more typical to the soils of Pomerol. The wine is aged for 18 months in barrique (50% new).

“Beautiful aromas of brambleberries, light chocolate, bark and nutmeg. Medium-bodied with fresh tannins and hints of terra-cotta and subtle coffee and chocolate undertones. So delicious and intense. Crushed stones add to the mineral, salty and ripe-fruit character that stays fresh. 57% merlot and 43% bouchet (cabernet franc).” - 97 Points, James Suckling

“Leading off the wines from this fabulous château, the 2022 Pensées De Lafleur is based on 57% Merlot and 43% Bouchet (an older Cabernet Franc selection) that's from a unique vein of more clay soils in the vineyard. It's a sensational wine in its own right, and readers shouldn't overlook this. Ripe black cherries, damp earth, chocolate, and foresty, winter savory and tobacco notes all define the aromatics, and it's a voluptuous, round, incredibly seamless, sexy Pensées that's better than the vast majority of chateaux’s Grand Vins.” - 97 Points, Jeb Dunnuck

"The 2022 Pensées de Lafleur is a head-turning, sensual wine, bursting with aromas of minty cherries and berries mingled with orange zest, black truffle and rose petal. Full-bodied, velvety and layered, it's deep, suave and seamless, with an enveloping core of fruit and tannins so polished that they caress the palate. This cuvée, derived from vines growing in the part of Lafleur's vineyard through which a water course once flowed and where the soils are richer in clay and better hydrated, still lives in the shadow of its grander sibling, but it's a must-purchase for me every year.” - 96 Points, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate

Producer: Château Lafleur

Country: France

Region: Bordeaux

Varietal:  Cabernet Franc, Merlot

Appellation: Pomerol

Vintage: 2022

Size: 750ml