Pensées de Lafleur 2022
218.12₣ (Inc. VAT bot. 75 cl.) / Spain
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2022 Pensées de Lafleur is a head-turning, sensual wine, bursting with aromas of minty cherries and berries mingled with orange zest, black truffle and rose petal. Full-bodied, velvety and layered, it's deep, suave and seamless, with an enveloping core of fruit and tannins so polished that they caress the palate. This cuvée, derived from vines growing in the part of Lafleur's vineyard through which a water course once flowed and where the soils are richer in clay and better hydrated, still lives in the shadow of its grander sibling, but it's a must-purchase for me every year.
Features
Type of wine
Pairings
Style
Occasions
Winery
Size
Appellation
Alcohol
14.5%
Grapes
Serving
Between 16ºC and 18ºC
Winemaking
Aged for 18 to 20 months in French oak barrels (30% new ones).
Description
In the heart of Pomerol, where gravel and blue clay soils have forged some of the world's most revered wines, comes Pensées de Lafleur, the second wine from Château Lafleur, though to call it "second" is almost an injustice. This label is not a watered-down replica of the grand vin, but a parallel interpretation, an echo with a voice of its own. Its existence responds to a deeply thoughtful decision by the Guinaudeau family: to separate certain specific parcels of Lafleur that show a distinct but complementary identity. Far from being a simple selection of barrels, Pensées de Lafleur is a distinct narrative, a wine that breathes its own rhythm and whispers the same mineral poetry as its illustrious older brother.
The vineyard stretches over the famous Pomerol plateau, where the mix of deep gravel, clay and iron deposits imprints a characteristic tension on the wine. Here, Merlot and Cabernet Franc share the limelight. Cultivated with a philosophy of minimal intervention, the vines are guided with almost artisanal meticulousness. Biodiversity is key: the vineyard is not only worked, it is listened to. In difficult years, such as 2017 or 2021, the decision to produce Pensées de Lafleur while maintaining a faithful style, without compromising its energy or elegant austerity, speaks of the team's courage and conviction.
Winemaking
The grapes for Pensées de Lafleur are harvested by hand, in small crates, with rigorous selection both in the vineyard and in the cellar. Each parcel is fermented separately, in small cement and stainless steel tanks, allowing precise control over temperature and maceration. Malolactic fermentation takes place naturally, without additives or accelerators. Afterwards, Pensées de Lafleur is aged for 14 to 16 months in French oak barrels, of which only a fraction is new, thus favouring the expression of the terroir over the imprint of the wood.
The ageing is patient, almost contemplative: evolution is not forced here, it is accompanied. The fine lees are stirred sparingly, preserving the delicate structure and vibrant energy that define Pensées de Lafleur. At the end of the process, it is assembled with surgical precision to achieve a balance between tension, depth and transparency.
Taste
In the glass, Pensées de Lafleur shows itself with a noble sobriety. The first impact is a mix of mineral freshness and graphite notes, followed by a subtle dance of black fruits: blackberry, cassis, dark plum. There is no exuberance or ostentation, but a restrained, almost intellectual elegance. The Cabernet Franc reveals itself in floral tones of violet and a hint of black tea, while the Merlot adds body, an enveloping texture, and a juicy core that supports the structure.
On the palate, it is precise, linear, like a taut thread that guides the palate from a firm start to a long, saline finish, with an echo of damp earth and hot stone. The acidity is vibrant, the tannicity polished but present. A wine that doesn't shout, but leaves a deep impression. Thoughtful, like its name.
Shipping to Peninsular Spain
FREE shipping on orders over 188.57₣ or for 18 bottles or more in 6-bottle multiples (24, 30, 36, 42, 48, 54 and 60 bottles)Estimated transit time: 2-3 working days.
| Bottles | Price | Over 188.57₣ |
|---|---|---|
| 1-6 | 6.51₣ | 0.00₣ (-6.51₣) |
| 7-12 | 6.51₣ | 0.00₣ (-6.51₣) |
| 13-17 | 12.16₣ | 0.00₣ (-12.16₣) |
| 18 | Free | 0.00₣ (Free) |
| 19-23 | 14.99₣ | 0.00₣ (-14.99₣) |
| 24 | Free | 0.00₣ (Free) |
| 25-29 | 18.67₣ | 0.00₣ (-18.67₣) |
| 30 | Free | 0.00₣ (Free) |
| 31-35 | 21.59₣ | 0.00₣ (-21.59₣) |
| 36 | Free | 0.00₣ (Free) |
| 37-41 | 25.36₣ | 0.00₣ (-25.36₣) |
| 42 | Free | 0.00₣ (Free) |
| 43-47 | 27.25₣ | 0.00₣ (-27.25₣) |
| 48 | Free | 0.00₣ (Free) |
| 49-53 | 31.96₣ | 0.00₣ (-31.96₣) |
| 54 | Free | 0.00₣ (Free) |
| 55-59 | 33.85₣ | 0.00₣ (-33.85₣) |
| 60 | Free | 0.00₣ (Free) |
| VAT included | ||
Appellation Map
Château Lafleur 2017 - 37,5 cl.
459.96₣
Other vintages: 2022, 2016
Other sizes: Magnum, 75 cl.