Chateau Lafleur

Château Lafleur is a property of remarkable standing within the upper echelons of the world’s greatest wines. It is undoubtedly one of the finest and rarest wines in Bordeaux, and more specifically in Pomerol, but somehow the property and wines transcend their geographical position, while being ultimately defined by the terroir from which they are crafted.

The wines of this modestly proportioned ‘château’ are atypical for many reasons. Robert Parker is one of the property’s greatest enthusiasts, finding majesty in many of the older vintages. ‘It is one of the most distinctive, most exotic and greatest wines, not only in Pomerol, but in the world,’ he has noted. Other commentators find an almost Burgundian quality to the wines’ elegance and individuality.

The wines of Lafleur are uncharacteristic for Pomerol in their composition. The blend is an almost perfect 50/50 split of Merlot and Cabernet Franc — an unusually harmonious balance of these two grapes. Production levels are tiny for a Bordeaux property. The 4.5-hectare vineyard produces only 1,000 cases per vintage, which is small, even by the standards of Right Bank properties.