Planted to 80% merlot and 20% cabernet franc in gravel soils. This 14.5-hectare estate adjacent to Lafleur and Le Gay and directly opposite Petrus was acquired by the Moueix family in 1953. Dark rim with a translucent core. This effort is all about elegance and balance with substantial but well managed and integrated tannins equally matched by fruit and acidity. A blueberry pie note makes this somewhat playful along with hints of cherry cola truffle and earthy meats adding an extra layer of complexity. The wood plays out on the finish so give this beauty some time and enjoy through 2030. Annual production approximately 3500 cases.

The 2011 La Fleur-Petrus has a well-defined, what feels like Cabernet Franc-tinged bouquet with black pepper, sous-bois and light tobacco scents percolating through the black fruit. The palate is medium-bodied, simple with fleshy, quite saturated tannins. Cohesive towards the finish with black pepper, clove and truffle, this has fine complexity and reveals more personality and charm with aeration. Tasted blind at the annual 10-Year-On tasting. -- Neal Martin

The 2011 Château La Fleur-Petrus is surprisingly forward and as someone that bangs Bordeaux, I would not begrudge anyone for opening this now. It has plenty of fruit on the nose: raspberry coulis, truffle and just a touch of menthol that evolves after an hour the bottle has been opened. This is precocious in the context of the vintage. The palate is soft and fleshy on the entry, quite saline with sappy black fruit, fruit-forward for the first hour, but then seeming to run out of ideas after an hour and thinning out (whereas the 2012 fans out). As a consequence, it just feels a little grainy and hard, in contrast to the more comely bouquet. Tasted February 2016. - Neal Martin