(18.5/20) Dark ruby. Very subtle and layered and unmodern on the nose. Very rich start and gorgeously layered. Succulent and lovely. Can’t fault this! Already a huge pleasure. Reverberant yet wonderfully rich. Dry, very long finish. Fabissimo. Dense. Very sweet.

This could turn out to be the finest La Fleur de Gay since the incredible duo of 1989 and 1990. Made from 35-year-old Merlot vines planted on the plateau of Pomerol sandwiched between the renowned Lafleur and Le Gay the dense purple-hued 2008 exhibits aromas of sweet black raspberries blueberries graphite charcoal and subtle wood. The wine displays a sensational texture tremendous purity and a remarkably long finish of nearly 50 seconds. There is no aggressiveness the tannins are ripe and the wine's acidity provides crispness as well as precision. Revealing exceptional density as well as potential it should evolve over 20-25 years.