1996 Lafleur
By Chateau Lafleur
1996 Lafleur from Chateau Lafleur, Pomerol, Bordeaux
In the tapestry of Bordeaux vintages, the 1996 Lafleur from Chateau Lafleur stands as a compelling illustration of Pomerol elegance. The turn of the mid-nineties unveiled both challenges and triumphs; the '96 vintage unveiled its radiant charm amidst this continental theatre of climatic flux.
Harmony in the Havoc: The 1996 Milestone
In that year, Bordeaux's capricious weather bestowed upon vintners a voyage of extremities; a siren of frost followed by redemption in the form of a sunbathed summer. The resultant grape harvest bred a paradox of power and finesse, a hallmark of the 1996 Lafleur.
The concentration achieved within these grapes was empyrean, yielding an obsidian-depth in colour. Unfurling its layers, one is greeted with an olfactory tapestry replete with truffles, violets, and an encapsulating earthiness - an ode to Pomerol's hallowed terroir.
A Connoisseur’s Investment: The Age-Defining Attributes
But it is on the palate where this wine ascends to vinous nobility; it deftly balances corpulence with precision. A structured attack gives way to a cavalcade of ripe black fruit, decadent chocolate notes and hints of Cuban tobacco – all cradled by sumptuously integrated tannins that whisper promises of longevity.
The investment savvy recognise not only the sensory allure but also the opportunity within this vintage. Vintage variation is the spice of portfolios, and the 1996 Lafleur punctuates this axiom with aplomb.
Suffused with maturity yet vibrant in its energy, the 1996 Lafleur from Chateau Lafleur merits a paramount place amongst discerning enophiles and strategic investors alike. Its poise and depth evoke reverence; this Pomerol vintage exemplifies how nature's whims can be transmuted into a treasure of inestimable pleasure and value
Current market price
$7,650.00
12x75cl
Highest score
90
POP score
458
Scores and tasting notes
As I suspected, the 1996 Lafleur is a painfully backward, austere wine that represents a modern day clone of this estate's 1966. It possesses a backward, tannic, Medoc-like character, with none of Pomerol's hallmark generosity. The wine exhibits a saturated dark purple color, as well as a distinctive mineral, black raspberry, and berry-scented nose with the steely, mineral Lafleur character well-displayed. Powerful, long, and rich, but excruciatingly tannic, this wine may or may not resolve all of its tannin. In short, it is an impressively constituted wine that is no sure thing. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2025.
Robert Parker Jr - Wine Advocate #122 April 1999
Tasted from an ex-chateau bottle at the Lafleur vertical dinner at Attersee in Austria, this is my first encounter with the 1996 and I was hoping that it was better than the disappointing Petrus 1996. It is better that its neighbour, although the challenging growing season seems to inhibit its ambitions. The nose is driven by the expressive Merlot component of the blend with lifted red fruit of raspberry, cranberry, black truffles and later accompanied by a hint of mocha. The aromatics seem to gain intensity in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with firm tannins and impressive fruit concentration. Powerful and burly, it does not possess the finesse or delineation of the 1995, but the sinewy finish is attractive. This is a Lafeur whose ambitions were stunted by the growing season. Tasted June 2012.
Neal Martin - Wine Journal Sep 2013