The 2017 Lafleur Bordeaux Blend from Chateau Lafleur in Pomerol, Bordeaux, France, has garnered high praise from various wine critics, establishing itself as one of the standout wines of its vintage. This red wine, composed of approximately equal parts Merlot and Cabernet Franc, boasts an alcohol percentage of 15.0% and is sealed with a traditional cork closure.
Jeff Leve from TheWineCellarInsider.com awarded the wine a score of 97, describing it as "one of the wines of the vintage." He highlights its complex nose, featuring "smoke, truffle, salt, cherries, kirsch, and underbrush," and praises its "freshness, vibrancy, chewy tannins and sweet, salty red fruits that linger." Leve recommends drinking the wine between 2030 and 2060, indicating its considerable aging potential.
James Suckling, known for his enthusiastic reviews, gave an exceptional score of 99. He described the wine with vivid imagery, noting "aromas of blackberries, black licorice, ink, and blood-oranges." Suckling emphasized its "full-bodied, tight and powerful" nature, with "compact tannins that cascade across the palate," and suggested trying it after 2025 to allow its structure and length to fully develop.
Jeb Dunnuck also rated the 2017 Lafleur highly, with a score of 97. He commended the vineyard's resilience during the spring frosts, which resulted in a "normal production" and "one of the wines of the vintage." Dunnuck highlighted its "deep purple hue" and "stunning nose of blackcurrants, black raspberries, chocolate, tobacco, and ground herbs." He praised its "full-bodied richness, deep, layered mid-palate, and incredible length."
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate gave the wine a near-perfect score of 98+, noting its "deep garnet-purple color" and "profound nose of plum preserves, mulberries, boysenberries, and licorice." The review emphasized its "fantastically energetic black and blue fruits" and "super-ripe, finely grained tannins," predicting it will be "quite delicious in 6-8 years," but recommends waiting 10-15 years for maximum impact.
Decanter praised the wine with a score of 95, mentioning its "creaminess and density to the black fruits" and a "clear Cabernet Franc edge." They noted the wine's "austerity and tightness to the tannins" and suggested a drinking window from 2026 to 2040.
Lastly, The Wine Independent's Lisa Perrotti-Brown awarded a score of 98, describing it as "very closed to begin with" but eventually revealing "gorgeous floral notes of roses, lavender, star anise, and charcuterie." She highlighted its "full-bodied palate" and "super-plush tannins," finishing with "incredible length and spiciness."
In summary, the 2017 Lafleur Bordeaux Blend is a wine of exceptional quality, praised for its complexity, depth, and aging potential. It is recommended to allow this wine to mature for several years to fully appreciate its nuanced flavors and robust structure.