1995 Lafleur
By Chateau Lafleur
1995 Lafleur from Chateau Lafleur, Pomerol, Bordeaux
In the pantheon of Bordeaux excellence, the 1995 vintage from Chateau Lafleur in Pomerol is a distinguished addition. Its arrival was heralded by a season of contrasts—after an uneven start, the warmer spell towards harvest sanctified the Merlot and Cabernet Franc grapes with an optimal ripening that sculpted this magnificent creation.
The Vintage's Signature: Purity and Precision
Investors should note that the 1995 Lafleur is an embodiment of elegance and structural integrity. The season graced us with a balance remarkable for its grace under power—Merlot's breadth paired with Cabernet Franc's aromatic lift offers a tapestry woven with precision. Investors will appreciate the striking minerality which reflects the iron-rich clay soils unique to Pomerol, ensuring the 1995 vintage carries an unmistakable sense of place.
A Study in Concentration and Harmony
Now at full maturity, the 1995 Lafleur presents a full-bodied experience yet retains a regal composure. Aromatic complexity abounds with truffles, violets and black cherries on the nose, while on the palate dark fruit harmonises with earthy undertones, hinting at graphite and smoked herbs. Silky tannins encapsulate the depth of flavour, yielding a finish that lingers with beguiling persistence.
For connoisseurs and investors alike, it is imperative to acknowledge that this vintage stands proudly alongside other great years. It is a masterwork of balance, a spectre of deft winemaking that reveals itself fully in each measured sip. Find solace in its provenance; here lies not just a wine but a cornerstone for refined collections.
Conclusion: Investment Potential and Pleasure Intertwined
The consummate structure and blossoming bouquet of the 1995 Lafleur promise further delight as they continue to unfurl with time. As such, it offers both immediate sensory joy and an astute long-term investment for collectors discerning enough to secure this jewel from Pomerol's crown. Imbued with rarity and prestige, the 1995 Lafleur from Chateau Lafleur epitomises investment-worthy viniculture from one of Bordeaux's most illustrious terroirs.
Market price (HKD)
HK$63,730.00
12x75cl
Highest score
96
POP score
416.88
Scores and tasting notes
Tasted from an ex-chateau bottle at the Lafleur vertical dinner at Attersee in Austria. The Lafleur 1995 is turning into a stellar Pomerol after a cautious first few years. As it begins to open up, it has a sublime bouquet that is less introspective than in past examples, bestowing scents of dark cherries, blackberry, limestone and a hint of balsamic. As I commented before, there is something that stylistically echoes La Conseillante just down the road. The palate is full-bodied with dense, obdurate tannins that form its chassis that will ensure that it ages over many years. It is still a little tight, still holding something back whilst the oyster shell tinged finish is imbued with a beguiling sense of symmetry. Superb. Tasted June 2012.
Neal Martin - Wine Journal Sep 2013
This is an awesome Lafleur, but it is also an amazingly backward, tannic monster that will need more cellaring than any Medoc in this vintage. The wine boasts an opaque black/purple color, as well as a closed but promising nose that represents the essence of blackberry, raspberry, and cherry fruit. Intertwined with those aromas is the tell-tale mineral terroir of Lafleur, full body, blistering dry, astringent tannin, and a layered, weighty feel on the palate. This is the kind of young claret that I couldn't wait to rush out and buy two decades ago, but now I have to be content to admire it and wish I were twenty years younger. It is formidable, prodigious, and oh, so promising, but I cannot see it being ready to drink before the end of the second decade of the next century! Anticipated maturity: 2020-2050.
Robert Parker Jr - Wine Advocate #115 February 1998