2017 Chateau Lafleur Les Pensees de Lafleur

Bordeaux Blend - 750ML
Reg: $219.94
$174.94
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ETA: Sep. 2024
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REVIEWS

JS 95 JD 94 TWI 94 VN 94 WA 93 DC 92 JL 92
JS 95

jamessuckling.com, January 2020

Deep, dark berries with lots of tree bark, black tea and dark chocolate. Medium-to full-body and enveloped by fine, polished tannins that give it form and focus. Try after 2023, yet very approachable even now.
JD 94

jebdunnuck.com, February 2020

The second wine of Chateau Lafleur which comes from a small, clay-dominated part of the estate vineyard, the 2017 Pensees De Lafleur is 53% Merlot and 47% Bouchet aged 15-16 months in 20-25% new barrels. Its deeper ruby...
TWI 94

The Wine Independent, December 2022

While Lafleur is based on the gravel soils in Pomerol, Pensees is made from the vines on clay. The 2017 Pensees has 52% Merlot together with 48% Cabernet Franc and is medium to deep garnet-purple in color. It slowly...
VN 94

Vinous, March 2020

The 2017 Pensées de Lafleur is simply stunning. Tasting it today, I can only conclude that Pensées is obviously more complete and enthralling than many Grand Vins in this vintage. Explosive, deep and beautifully resonant...
WA 93

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, March 2020

The 2017 Pensées de Lafleur is a blend of 52% Merlot and 48% Cabernet Franc. Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, it springs from the glass with vivacious scents of exotic spices—cassia, fenugreek, cumin seed and star...
DC 92

Decanter, April 2018

The 1,500 candles in the vineyards (as with Petrus and VCC) were effective against the frost here, and as with much of the region the water stress was causing concern until rain at the end of June, which got everything...
JL 92

TheWineCellarInsider.com, May 2018

Floral in nature, maraschino cherries, silky tannins, wet earth and juicy plums come to front promptly. Soft, seductive, sweet and fresh, give this a few years to age so the wine can expand and soften. Made from a blend...

WINE DETAILS

Color & Type Red
Varietal Bordeaux Blend
Country France
Region Bordeaux
Sub-region Pomerol
Vintage 2017
Size 750ML
Percent alcohol 15%
Closure Cork

The 2017 Les Pensees de Lafleur is a Bordeaux blend that hails from the esteemed Pomerol sub-region of Bordeaux, France. Produced by Chateau Lafleur, this red wine features a balanced blend of 52% Merlot and 48% Cabernet Franc. With an alcohol content of 15%, it is presented with a traditional cork closure.

Several professional reviewers have lauded this vintage with high praise. James Suckling awarded it an impressive score of 95, describing it as having "deep, dark berries with lots of tree bark, black tea, and dark chocolate." He noted its medium-to-full body and praised the fine, polished tannins that give the wine form and focus, suggesting it will be even better after 2023 but is approachable now.

Jeff Leve from TheWineCellarInsider.com gave the wine a score of 92, highlighting its "floral nature, maraschino cherries, silky tannins, wet earth, and juicy plums." He recommended giving it a few years to age to allow it to expand and soften.

Vinous's Antonio Galloni was particularly enthralled, scoring it 94 and exclaiming that the wine is "simply stunning" and "more complete and enthralling than many Grand Vins in this vintage." He described it as "explosive, deep, and beautifully resonant."

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate also rated it 93, emphasizing its medium to deep garnet-purple color and vivacious scents of exotic spices. The publication noted that the palate is filled with juicy black fruits and spicy sparks, framed by firm, finely grained tannins.

Decanter's review, which gave the wine a score of 92, mentioned the effective use of 1,500 candles in the vineyard to protect against frost. They noted the wine's bouncy tannins and its serious character due to its clay soils.

Jeb Dunnuck awarded the wine 94 points, describing it as having a "beautiful bouquet of black raspberries, leafy herbs, damp earth, and hints of chocolate." He highlighted its gorgeous texture, impressive concentration, and fine yet building tannins.

The Wine Independent also gave it a 94, praising its “gorgeous perfume of violets, black cherries, and licorice” and noting its medium-bodied palate with fantastic freshness and exquisitely fine-grained tannins.

Overall, the 2017 Les Pensees de Lafleur is a highly regarded wine with excellent reviews across the board, indicating its strong potential for aging and its balanced, complex profile.