Scores
97
Robert Parker
The Guinaudeau family's mantra is to "never submit to the vintage," and in 2021 that meant 10 sleepless nights of frost protection and a growing season that required quick reactions to perform the necessary treatments without neglecting the other important viticultural tasks of the year. The reward is the profound 2021 Lafleur, a brilliant blend of 52% Cabernet Franc and 48% Merlot that wafts from the glass with aromas of wild berries, violets, rose petals, vine smoke and black truffle. Full-bodied, layered and seamless, it's deep and penetrating, with superb concentration and beautifully refined structuring tannins, concluding with a long, resonant finish. A monument in the making, I wouldn't be surprised to see it transcend my bracketed score when revisited in bottle.
97
Vinous
The 2021 Lafleur is a complex and mysterious wine. Tasting it today is like opening an early chapter in a great book. There's plenty of intrigue, but so much has yet to develop. Possessing dynamic energy and dimension, the 2021 is incredibly fascinating. This edition of Lafleur has tremendous pedigree and complexity - a wine of notable nuance and character. Dark red-toned fruit, lavender, rose petal, mint and gravel linger.
99
James Suckling
Woooow! This really rolls off the palate and goes on and on, Full-bodied and so long. Sweet and sour. Cherries, currants. Orange peel. Thought-provokingly energetic. Defines youthful sophistication.
97
Decanter
An exceptional success in 2021 and surely one of the best wines of the vintage. An expressive nose, which opens more after 10 minutes in the glass, gives lovely salty soy aromas, ripe and concentrated blackcurrant, wet stone, smoked earth notes with perfume lingering in the background - lilac, violets and irises as well as some sweet chocolate - so much going on. Clearly powerful, ripe and concentrated - intensity on a grand scale - really giving a lot of flavour but tightly packaged in terms of layers and tannins which are finely grained and settle in the mouth giving the frame. The flavours expand slowly and then linger so long on the finish. Direct, linear, determined and persistent with clear definition of each element. Purity, clarity and balance - I just love the intention here - it knows where it's going with a quiet confidence and gives a warm blood and iodine note at the end bringing you right back to Lafleur. Sensational.