Wine Advocate Robert Parker 2014 (89-91 Punkte)
The dark ruby-colored 2013 Lafleur (55% Cabernet Franc and 45% Merlot) displays excellent licorice and kirsch notes, medium body, and attractive purity and ripeness in a pretty, mid-weight style. It should drink nicely for 10-15 years.
This vintage’s growing season – a cold spring, hot July and stressful September with high humidity with lots of pressure from botrytis forming in the red grapes – resulted in a small crop at Lafleur.
René Gabriel (17 Punkte)
Tiefes Purpur, satt in der Mitte, Granatschimmer am Rand. Erdig-süsses Bouquet, Waldbeerenfrucht, rote Kirschen, Kamille, helles Leder, sehr dicht und auch eine erstaunliche Tiefe dabei zeigend, der Cabernet-Franc-Part beschert ihm eine florale Aromenpartie. Im Gaumen erst mit royaler Adstringenz, wieder mit viel Fruchtaromen im Extrakt bestückt, bleibt dabei rotbeerig und zeigt von der Süsse her ganz feine Grenadine-Nuancen, im Nachklang kommen dann die griffigen, leicht spröden Tannine zum Tragen. Dieser Lafleur verlangt (wieder) viel Verständnis. Auch von einem geübten Degustator, denn immerhin ist dies mein 56igster Lafleur-Jahrgang. So ganz schlau werde ich in den letzten Jahren nicht mehr aus diesem raren und auch oft eigenwilligen Pomerol. Es scheint leider auch, dass der Fanclub am Abnehmen ist, denn die ersten 20 Jahre ist ein junger Lafleur wirklich kein Spaziergang, sondern schon eine anspruchsvolle önologische Kletterpartie. Kann sicherlich noch zulegen.
James Suckling (93-94 Punkte)
„..This is very linear and pure with strawberry and cherry character. It really is the purity that gets you. Full body with super-linear tannins and a bright, racy finish. This is focused and refined. The winemaker says that no botrytis was seen in his vineyard, giving such wonderful quality“
Neil Martin (93-95 Punkte)
„…The Lafleur is a blend of 45% Merlot picked on 1 and 2 October, and 55% Cabernet Franc picked on 9 October. Leaving the wine to open up over 5 minutes you can discern a distant marine influence that suffuses the black fruit: small dark cherries and boysenberry. The palate is medium-bodied with very good structure. The tensile tannins are immediately recognizable and as Baptiste mentioned, reminiscent of classic vintages such as 1988, 2001 and 2004. It is a masculine Lafleur, upstanding and perhaps even slightly aloof, but there is great penetration and focus towards the saline finish. If you want a more flamboyant Lafleur then head for the 2009, but if you appreciate a more reserved Lafleur then head here.“
Vinous Antonio Galloni (92-94 Punkte)
„…Violets, plums, crushed rocks and cloves jump from the glass in the 2013 Lafleur. A vibrant, finely sculpted wine, the 2013 impresses for its energy and tension. With time in the glass, the flavors become even more delineated and nuanced. The 2013 is a mid-weight wine, that offers terrific potential for the future“