1947 Château La Fleur-Pétrus
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Tasting notes
The provenance of this bottle of 1947 La Fleur-Pétrus should be noted, as it came from Joseph Phelps's personal cellar. It offers light, brambly red fruit tones on the nose. This is not nearly as complex as the best Pomerol wines from this vintage, though it's still enjoyable. Quality is clustered more on the palate, which is unusually linear in style, correct yet fresh. There is an airiness to this 1947 that is more akin to the 1949 vintage. It has just the right amount of bitterness, maybe a tad short on the rooibos- and cedar-tinged finish. This is delightful, though not earth-shattering. Tasted at "Koala's" Bordeaux dinner in Hong Kong.
Critic scores
Robert Parker
Robert Parker
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I would argue that the most exciting wines of the twentieth century are the 1947 Pomerols. Although the 1947s from Petrus and Lafleur (both perfect wines) were not included in the Rodenstock tasting, the wines tasted exemplify the number of exhilarating, decadent, and sumptuous wines produced by this tiny appellation. It is hard to believe a wine I have rated 90 could be embarrassed in the flight in which it appeared, but that can happen, particularly tasting at the pinnacle of quality represented by this flight. The 1947 La Fleur-Petrus revealed a deep ruby/garnet color, a spicy, floral, berry-scented nose, medium body, some of the unctuosity and viscosity expected in a wine from this vintage, and a soft, round, velvety finish. It has long been fully mature, so drink it up. The notes for this wine are taken from the description of Series III - Flight A of the 1995 tasting conducted in Munich by Helga and Hardy Rodenstock. Many years after the tasting from which this note derives allegations were made concerning the authenticity of old and rare bottles of wine sold by Hardy Rodenstock to collectors around the world. The matter has been the subject of numerous articles, litigation and at least one book. Mr. Parker believes that the wines served to him at this tasting were authentic so this note and the others from that specific tasting continue to be posted on eRobertParker.com.
I would argue that the most exciting wines of the twentieth century are the 1947 Pomerols. Although the 1947s from Petrus and Lafleur (both perfect wines) were not included in the Rodenstock tasting, the wines tasted exemplify the number of exhilarating, decadent, and sumptuous wines produced by this tiny appellation. It is hard to believe a wine I have rated 90 could be embarrassed in the flight in which it appeared, but that can happen, particularly tasting at the pinnacle of quality represented by this flight. The 1947 La Fleur-Petrus revealed a deep ruby/garnet color, a spicy, floral, berry-scented nose, medium body, some of the unctuosity and viscosity expected in a wine from this vintage, and a soft, round, velvety finish. It has long been fully mature, so drink it up. Robert Parker, Wine Advocate February 1996
About the producer
Château La Fleur-Pétrus was the first acquisition of many in Pomerol by Jean Pierre Moueix, who went on to own Château Trotanoy, Château Hosanna and most notably Pétrus. Jean Pierre Moueix was born in Corèzze in moved to Saint-Émilion with his parent in 1929 following the Great Depression.