The 2011 Lafleur is a Bordeaux blend produced by Chateau Lafleur in the Pomerol region of Bordeaux, France. This wine, comprising 53% Cabernet Franc and 47% Merlot, is a notable example of the vintage, reflecting both the terroir and the meticulous care taken in its production.
Chuck Hayward of JJ Buckley awarded the wine an exceptional score of 99, describing it as "opaque and purple-black in color" with a reserved and dense bouquet. He notes intriguing aromas of dark tea and iodine, mingling with vibrant black fruit. On the palate, the wine is dense and compressed, indicating significant aging potential. Hayward emphasizes the "incredibly long finish" and mentions that this wine will require 5-7 years to start showing its true character but can last up to fifty years, calling it "astounding."
Neal Martin's Wine Journal rated it 95 points, praising its "generous bouquet with scents of raspberry, wild strawberry, oyster shell, and a touch of kirsch." Martin notes that while it is more approachable than the 2009 and 2010 vintages, it maintains wonderful fruit concentration and minerality, with a very persistent finish. Martin describes the wine as "a linear Lafleur with a persistent finish," highlighting its excellent focus.
According to Decanter, which scored the wine 96 points, the 2011 Lafleur is "truly stupendous" and showcases the greatness of its terroir. This vintage was one of the driest on record, resulting in incredibly small berries and concentrated juice. The wine is described as deeply colored with a primary black fruit nose that builds in the glass, featuring plush, polished tannins and a concentration of dark fruits like plum, mulberry, and damson, along with touches of dark chocolate, cured meat, and spice. Decanter commends the balance and texture of the wine, noting it is still in its youth.
James Suckling awarded the wine 97 points, calling it "all class: the red wine of the vintage." He notes complex aromas of blackberry and white truffle, with hints of wet earth and stones. The wine has a full body, structured with velvety tannins, and a very long finish with fabulous fruit, expected to be even better by 2019.
Other reviewers such as Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (94 points), Vinous (94 points), John Gilman (95 points), and Jeff Leve (95 points) also provided high praise, highlighting the wine's balance, depth, and aging potential.
In summary, the 2011 Lafleur is a deeply impressive Bordeaux blend, celebrated for its complexity, structure, and longevity, making it a standout wine of its vintage.