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Tasting notes
The 1983 Lafleur is a vintage that I have tasted three or four times, though, to my knowledge, this is the first time from magnum. It is an outstanding Pomerol, perhaps unsurprisingly more backward than bottle format and demanding coaxing from the glass. It unfurls with red fruit, wild mint, black truffle and light ferrous scents. This is very harmonious, yet it does bide its time before it really gets motoring. The palate is supremely well balanced with fabulous poise, yet there is real structure here, more black fruit tones joining the chorus line with hints of black truffle and singed leather. Potent and structured on the finish—it is clear that large format bottles of this will benefit from further bottle age. This is impressive. Tasted at dinner at Moon Bay in Hong Kong.
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More reviews and scores
The 1983 Lafleur is the vintage that alerted me to the pedigree of this Pomerol growth back in 2004, so I have a sentimental attachment to it. A recent encounter served blind in Hong Kong confirms that the Lafleur ranks alongside the 1983 Cheval Blanc as the best Right Bank of the vintage. It is quite precocious and generous on the nose with sorbet-like red fruit tinged with peppermint and truffle oil. It has lost a little cohesion in recent years but offers more secondary scents of leather and sage. The palate has wondrous balance and poise: hints of iron infusing the supple red fruit with a complex and detailed finish. Well-stored bottles will continue giving immense pleasure. Tasted at a private dinner in Bordeaux.
Full mature, yet still in far better condition than most 1983 Pomerols, Lafleur’s 1983 has a medium ruby color with considerable pink at the edge. A very exotic, almost kinky nose of Asian spice, licorice, truffle, and jammy kirsch is followed by a medium to full-bodied, plum, fleshy wine with sweet tannin, and low acidity in a very evolved style. Certainly among the very good vintages of Lafleur over the last 20 years, this is the most evolved and drinkable. Anticipated maturity: Now-2015. Last tasted, 8/02.
Port-like. A monster. Extremely ripe, exaggerated style with loads of berry and earth character. Full-bodied and tannic. Still needs time. try after 1998.--The Bordeaux 50. James Suckling, Wine Spectator 1994
About the producer
The Société Civile du Ch. Lafleur is the collective name for the Guinaudeau family’s wines and estates. These are some of the Right Bank’s most famous wines, including Ch. Lafleur and Les Pensées in Pomerol, along with Les Perrières, Les Champs Libres and Ch. Grand Village in Fronsac.