2020 Chateau Lafleur Pomerol

"Where to begin when singing the praises of Château Lafleur and its stewards, the Guinaudeau family? At this address, rare seriousness and attention to detail, informed by a deep engagement with Bordeaux's past and present, meets a superb terroir, planted almost entirely with old massal selections of Cabernet Franc and Merlot, which has never seen pesticides or herbicides. The result, somewhat predictably, is one of Bordeaux's very greatest wines, but also, given its Cabernet preponderance and soils richer in gravel than in clay, a rather anomalous Pomerol." ~Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

In the world of fine wine, few names are as revered as Château Lafleur. If you were to ask wine lovers to name the very best from Pomerol, Lafleur would undoubtedly be at the top, right alongside the legendary Petrus. But for many, Lafleur holds a unique place—some even consider it the ultimate expression of what Pomerol can offer. The 2020 vintage? It's one of the finest examples yet.

Château Lafleur has a history that stretches back over 150 years, with a legacy of producing wines that are nothing short of exceptional. The estate’s dedication to quality and innovation has made it one of the most sought-after wines in the world. And the 2020 vintage stands as proof that Lafleur continues to push the boundaries of what is possible in Pomerol.

Lafleur is not a wine you come by easily. With limited production and high demand, it’s a true luxury. For those who are fortunate enough to secure a bottle, Lafleur offers an experience that goes beyond just tasting wine—it’s a chance to own a piece of history. And as the wine world continues to take notice of its quality, Lafleur’s value is only set to rise.

This isn’t just a wine; it’s a statement. A rare and exquisite wine from one of the world’s greatest estates.

2020 was an outstanding year for Bordeaux. Vinous Media blessed this year with a 98-point review and said, "Two thousand-twenty is an exceptional vintage for Bordeaux, certainly the best in the 2018-2020 trilogy. Quality is exceptionally high among the great wines of Saint-Émilion and Pomerol."

50% Merlot and 50% Cabernet Franc. Two varieties that come together to create a wine of perfect balance. The Merlot brings richness and ripe fruit, while the Cabernet Franc adds structure, complexity, and a touch of elegance. The result is a wine that’s deep, intense, and incredibly refined. You’ll find dark fruits, subtle floral notes, and a hint of tobacco that makes this wine truly unique.

See Critical Reviews for detailed tasting notes.

One of the wines of the vintage, but likely to prove slower evolving and more introverted than its 2019 counterpart, the 2020 Lafleur unwinds in the glass with aromas of cherries, raspberries, kirsch, black truffle, orange zest and vine smoke. Full-bodied, layered and multidimensional, it's deep and concentrated, with a tightly wound core of fruit framed by rich, powdery tannins, concluding with a long, saline finish. This is another magical bottle from an estate that just seems to do everything right. ~99 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

Smoky wood. Herbs, dark chocolate. At the beginning still buttery, very closed, liquorice and extremely ripe elderberry. With air, black currant and Cuban tobacco. In the mouth an immense tannin density, but at the same time so fine and so creamy. The plump, round mid-palate leads seamlessly into a juicy, mineral finish. Tobacco on the finish. A perfectly round, inherently homogenous amalgam. More substance is hardly to be accommodated in such a mellow ensemble without losing freshness and a certain light-footedness. ~99 Falstaff

There’s such beautiful clarity to this with freshly crushed grapes, flowers such as violets, and hints of chocolate. Aromatic. Full and linear with refined tannins that give length and focus. Poised. Such brightness. Needs five or six years to show it’s greatness. ~98 James Suckling

Smooth, supple and alive in the glass, this has an energy and brightness. It’s compact and there’s density and concentration, but coiled right now, almost narrow, driving the flavours vertically. Seriously elegant, sophisticated and intellectual with the savoury elements of wet stone, liquorice, dried earth, tobacco and an iris and violet florality lingering and dominating, but this manages to be complex and detailed with polished tannins and a sense of absolute purity. A great Lafleur that will take its time, only just offering a glimpse of what’s to come. ~98 Decanter

Looking at the flagship 2020 Château Lafleur, it’s based on 54% Merlot and 46% Bouchets (Cabernet Franc) that spent 15 months in just 25% new French oak. This brilliant Pomerol reveals a saturated ruby/purple hue as well as a dense, primordial bouquet of red and black fruits, tobacco leaf, iodine, flowers, and crushed stone-like minerality. A powerful, full-bodied, concentrated Lafleur built for the long haul, it has beautiful overall balance, lots of ripe tannins, and the vintage's focused, pure, structured style front and center. It needs to be forgotten for a solid decade and will evolve for 40 years or more. ~98 Jeb Dunnuck

The 2020 Lafleur takes all the elements of this site and dials them up. All of the natural richness and textural intensity of the year comes through in a decidedly flamboyant, opulent Lafleur. It's an immediate Lafleur, that much is obvious. I imagine the classic Lafleur bouquet will develop in bottle, as aeration starts to release some of the classic Bouchet (Cabernet Franc) notes that are such signatures. Today, the sumptuousness of Merlot really drives the wines' balance, with the Bouchet felt mostly in the structural profile. I can't wait to see how this ages. ~98 Vinous Media

The 2020 vintage was less of a shock perhaps for Lafleur than many other estates – they travel less than many estates, and already spend much of their time in the vines. Stunning texture, knitted down but rippling with silk and velvet, opening up to show violet, cherry, mandarin, cocoa bean, black truffle, mint, stretches out langoriously, with pulses of electricity and points of energy, tension and sinewy tannins. Showcases an oyster shell salinity that don’t usually associate with a solar vintage. They do such a great job here of illuminating individual flavours, of bringing definition to the overall palate, and this is a superb Lafleur. Hard to fault. Winemaker Baptiste Guineaudeau. ~98 Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux

***Free Shipping on 6 or More Bottles of This Wine***