Professional Reviews
Antonio Galloni
AG
96
"The 2005 Lafleur has always been a bit of a beast. It is clearly nowhere near its drinking window either on the nose or palate. Blackberry, gravel, wild heather and graphite scents reluctantly emerge on the nose, but it is a little surly compared to the 2008, for example. The palate is huge in terms of concentration and structure, exerting a vice-like grip with an uncompromising muscular finish. This perhaps harks back to the style of the Robin sisters in the 1970s? A magnificent wine albeit hard to love. Tasted from ex-château magnum at Kate & Kon's 40-Year vertical in Austria." -Neal Martin
Robert Parker
RP
100
"This amazing wine puts on a display of fireworks in terms of its aromatics, with a stunning nose of blue and black fruits, forest floor, flowers and earth. Dense purple, full-bodied, rich, moderately tannic and super-concentrated, this is a profound Pomerol that still needs another decade of cellaring. This is possibly the greatest Lafleur of the modern era, rivaling the 1982 and 2000. Forget it for another 5-10 years and drink it over the following quarter-century." -Robert M. Parker, Jr.
Decanter
D
99
"Jacques Guinaudeau describes 2005 as the 'deckchair vintage': 'It was such a perfect harvest that we only had to let nature take its course.’ That said, this is an utterly brilliant and sublime Lafleur, and for me is one of the standout wines of this great vintage. Interestingly there is a higher percentage of Merlot, at 61%. It has a floral, liquorice nose with ink and cassis notes, while the palate is full, sweet and mouthfilling, with flavours of dark chocolate, plum skin, graphite and creamy, ripe black fruits. Exquisitely sculpted tannins are offset by bright, racy acidity, giving this wine a gorgeously seamless texture, balance and a mind boggling finish. Utterly graceful and rivetingly compelling." -John Stimpfig
Wine Spectator
WS
100
"Exhibits a complex nose of crushed blackberry, dried flowers and dark chocolate. Full-bodied, with a rich, powerful palate. Tannic and muscular, with great length. Super racy. Builds and goes and goes. So fine and beautiful. Mythic."
Details
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Vintage
2005
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Size
750ml
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Farming Practice
Traditional