2017 Lascombes
By Chateau Lascombes
2017 Lafleur from Château Lafleur, Pomerol, Bordeaux
In the distinguished constellation of Bordelaise finesse, the 2017 Lafleur from Château Lafleur elevates itself with an understated opulence that whispers of the Pomerol terroir's profundity. As a critic who has waxed poetic about vintages across epochs, I find this vintage to hold a special resonance that distinguishes itself from its vaunted predecessors.
Setting the Stage: Pomerol in 2017
The year 2017 was met with arduous challenges for Bordeaux vignerons, given an unexpected frost that veritably reshaped the vintage’s destiny. Yet, it is amid these tribulations that Château Lafleur articulated a harmony of merlot and cabernet franc with remarkable grace. The mettle of their viticulture and precision in oenological practices culminated in a wine that articulates the resilience and unexpected elegance born from adversity.
A Vintage of Resilience and Harmony
The 2017 Lafleur from Château Lafleur is an odyssey of sensorial finesse, its bouquet evoking dark cherries and a complex fusion of earthy truffle and fresh violets. On the palate, one perceives not just fruit but a landscape – each sip a narrative interlacing structure with silky tannins and an ambrosial depth that cascades into an enduring finish.
This particular bottling from Château Lafleur encases a profound adaptability which wine investors and aficionados should regard as indicative of its latent potential for evolution and enrichment in years to come.
As an esteemed candidate for discerning cellars, the 2017 vintage brings to light a rare form of artistry – one that captures both the inherent risks and exquisite rewards that define the world of fine wine investment.
Conclusion: A Testament to Terroir and Tenacity
The story of the 2017 Lafleur from Château Lafleur is as much about its birth as it is about its journey forward. Its innate charm resonates with a quiet confidence, promising to unfurl dimensions of pleasure for those patient to behold its unfolding over time. Abound with captivating complexity, it is undeniably one to watch, as it matures into its own legacy within the brilliant canon of Pomerol masterpieces.
Market price (CAD)
$730.00
12x75cl
Highest score
94
POP score
31.43
Scores and tasting notes
Medium to deep garnet-purple in color, the 2017 Lascombes leaps from the glass with black raspberries, mulberries and blackcurrant pastilles with hints of earth, herbs, meats and cedar. Medium-bodied, it has plenty of juicy fruit and is fresh and plush, finishing long with a mineral lift.
Lisa Perrotti-Brown - The Wine Advocate, 16 March 2020
The medium to deep garnet-purple colored 2017 Lascombes gives up lovely scents of roses and lavender over a core of kirsch, crushed black plums and black raspberries with a waft of cinnamon stick. Medium-bodied with a rock-solid frame of firm, ripe, grainy tannins, it has a great core of muscular fruit and lingering spicy notes on the finish.
Wine Advocate - Lisa Perrotti-Brown - robertparker.com
The 2017 Lascombes is a very promising wine. Unctuous, super-ripe and flamboyant, the 2017 packs a serious punch. Crème de cassis, blackberry jam, spice, new leather and sweet French oak add to the wine's racy personality. Although Lascombes is not an especially typical Margaux, it is super-expressive today. That said, it is my belief that wines made with this sort of intense, concentrated approach need to be bottled early because there is a significant risk of the fruit drying out during élevage.
Antonio Galloni - Antonio Galloni - vinous.com - May '18
Tight and firm with dark-berry and chocolate character. Some mahogany, too. Medium-bodied, firm and silky. But should fill out with elevage. Shows potential.
James Suckling - jamessuckling.com
A soft and alluring style, with warm boysenberry and blackberry puree flavors allied to a velvety structure. Light spice shadings emerge on the open-knit finish.—J.M.
Wine Spectator - James Molesworth - winespectator.com
The 2017 Lascombes feels a little smudged on the nose compared to its peers, though I find it less decadent and ostentatious than other recent vintages. The palate is medium-bodied with firm tannin, dense black fruit, quite spicy in style but the finish feels focused and with more tension and energy than I expected. Not bad at all.
Neal Martin - Neal Martin - vinous.com - May '18