2010 Chateau Lafleur

100 POINTS

James Suckling

This red shows such beautiful and ripe aromas of blackberries, orange peel, hazelnuts, and tropical fruits. It's full-bodied, with superb texture of polished tannins that are velvety. The length last for minutes. It's muscular yet elegant. It flexes it muscle yet pulls them back. What gorgeous tone to this young red. Try in 2020.

100 POINTS

Falstaff

Dark ruby, purple reflections, with a subtle bright rim. On the nose spicy fine oak nuances, dark berry fruit, smoky, delicate animal elements, hints of sloe and cranberry, and with tobacco notes. Juicy, pleasant fruit, fine nougat at the core, vivid but well-packed tannins, dark minerality, a salty touch, and it has great length. It has a huge future with definite further ageing potential. It should be allowed to enjoy another decade of bottle ageing.

100 POINTS

John Stimpfig - Decanter

Though 2010 is undeniably a truly great vintage right across Bordeaux, I have yet to fall in love with many wines from this memorable vintage. However, I have fallen head over heels for the 2010 Lafleur, which seems to have a more exotic and flamboyant edge than many of its peers. Sweetly floral on the nose, this leads onto a palate of expertly controlled power and exuberance. Dark, bright-brimmed damson fruit, mocha, graphite, minerals and liquorice dominate the intense primary flavours. Unlike some 2010s, this doesn’t feel quite so buttoned-up thanks to the sexy, fluid tannins and lively, fresh acidity. It's still a baby, and really shouldn’t be broached for at least another seven or eight years. After that, it’s good for another 30, at least.

99 POINTS

James Suckling

Very powerful wine with loads of Cabernet Franc character with dark fruits, blueberry and hints of spices. Licorice and flowers. Full and very powerful, intense is the word. It’s like a first growth from Paulliac. Incredible. Extreme, almost severe in style yet fabulous. 62% Cabernet Franc and 36% Merlot. Points: 99-100

98 POINTS

Neal Martin - Vinous

The 2010 Lafleur is showing a lot of Cabernet Franc on the nose. It is supremely well defined with incredibly clarity and terroir expression. You could almost mistake it for a Left Bank. Figeac? The palate is precise and detailed, touches of burnt toast and white pepper sprinkled over the persistent and structured finish that does not miss a step. Brilliant. Tasted blind at Farr Vintners 10-Year On Bordeaux horizontal. Drink 2030-2075.

98 POINTS

Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW - Robert Parker Wine Advocate

Made of 62% Cabernet Franc and 38% Merlot, the deep garnet colored 2010 Lafleur features cedar chest and kirsch notes to begin, unfurling to offer baked plums, boysenberries, sandalwood and licorice scents plus a waft of pencil lead. Full-bodied, the palate is very taut and muscular, with slowly maturing red and black fruits and a solid frame of firm, ripe, grainy tannins, finishing long and mineral laced. Drink 2020-2052.

98 POINTS

Falstaff

Deep dark ruby in colour with an opaque core and purple reflections. On the nose, still somewhat shy, with floral nuances, subtle hints of stone fruit, sour cherry, and black cherry. The palate is powerful, very mineral and saline, very typical, with perfect tannins, fine dark chocolate notes, firm with a fine herbal spice finish which lingers for a long time. A potent parade Lafleur, that expresses its unmistakable terroir, a real Vin de Garde.

98 POINTS

Falstaff

Dark ruby in colour with purple reflections, and subtle brightening on the rim. On the nose, a little closed at the moment, with dark berry fruit, nuances of sloes and cranberries, smoky, subtly animalistic, with tobacco-like spice. The palate is juicy, with pleasant fruit, a core of fine nougat, pronounced but well-packaged tannins, darkly mineral with a saline touch, persistent but has already clearly retreated into 'hibernation' at this stage, only partially showing itself, it should now rest for several years to awaken as a radiant youth.