Castle La Fleur-Petrus - Pomerol 2010

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

95 / 100

the8/31/2013

Good bright red-ruby. Very fresh, highly scented nose combines cherry, raspberry, flowers, crushed stone, tobacco and underbrush; this could only be Pomerol. Fat, ripe and extremely deep but with uncanny precision and peppery lift to its vibrant flavors of cherry, raspberry, black tea and stony minerality. A Pomerol of great energy and refinement, finishing with firm tannic spine, terrific peppery lift and outstanding mineral reserve. Based on this wine's tightly coiled quality and uncanny depth, I would expect it to merit an even higher score a decade from now, when it will probably also reveal more flesh and sweetness. 95 (+?) points

Wine Spectator

97 / 100

byJames Molesworththe3/31/2013

This has a dense, almost loamy feel at the core, with smoldering bay and ganache notes leading to layers of fig preserves, blackberry coulis and steeped black currant fruit. The terrific, charcoal-coated grip drives the finish with authority. This seems poised to expand significantly in the cellar. Best from 2016 through 2035. –JM

Wine Advocate

97 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe3/1/2013

This wine has a character similar to its cross-street neighbor, Petrus, displaying sweet mulberry and intense black fruit characteristics, with a hint of vanillin and loads of black cherry jam. Full-bodied, extravagantly luscious, with a skyscraper-like mid-palate and phenomenal length of close to 50 seconds, the wine has plenty of tannin, but the voluptuous fruit, power and overall glycerin and intensity tend to conceal much of it. Elegant but compellingly rich and authoritative, the 2010 is a truly magnificent wine for this estate, which has one of the finest terroirs in all of Pomerol. Forget it for 5-7 years and drink it over the following 30-35.

This 2010 is one of the most remarkable wines ever produced at this estate. The vineyard, about the same size as Petrus at 35 acres, is virtually all Merlot, but there is some Cabernet Franc in the final blend.

Wine Advocate

96 / 100

byNeal Martinthe2/15/2013

Tasted at the offices of Ets J-P Moueix, the La Fleur-Petrus has wonderful clarity and precision on the nose. It is timid at first, but eventually offers subtle notes of black cherries, cassis, crushed stone and plum jam. This expresses its terroir effortlessly. The palate is medium-bodied with a broody, ferrous opening. The acidity cuts through the intense black fruit with ease but the finish is much more inward looking than the Hosanna. The finish is supremely well focused with outstanding persistency. Tasted November 2012

Jamessuckling.com

98 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe2/3/2013

Fresh and clean with hazelnut, chocolate and berry character. Truffles too. Full body, with silky tannins and a tangy finish. I like the balance and finesse to this young Lafleur Petrus. So refined and beautiful. Better in 2017

Wine Advocate

95-98 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe5/31/2011

2010: This is an incredible effort from this 35-acre vineyard (almost the identical size as Petrus). I had visited the 2010 Petrus about an hour before I had La Fleur Petrus. I was dumbfounded – it appeared to have a character nearly identical to the great Petrus! The fabulous 2010 La Fleur Petrus boasts a dense purple color in addition to a big, sweet perfume of mocha-infused black raspberry and black cherry fruit that is extravagantly rich, textured and long. Super-pure, deep and full-bodied, this remarkable wine will be one for the history books. The tannins are elevated, but the depth of fruit and richness are amazing. For those who will never be able to afford a bottle of Petrus, this is about as close as one can get to the aromas and flavors of that mythical wine. It should drink well for three decades or more. Drink 2011-2041(95-98+ points)

Asian Palate

92-94 / 100

byJeannie Cho Lee MWthe5/24/2011

The 2010 La Fleur Petrus has very pretty aromatics of blackberries, plums, cedar, spice, and violets, with a wide array of flavours on the palate. There is an impressive delicacy to the flavours, while the tannins and structure suggest a wine for very long aging.

Le Point

15,5 / 20

byJacques Dupontthe5/12/2011

Fermé, bouche ronde, très douce, tanins gras et veloutés, du moelleux dans ce vin bien aimable, mais avec de la réserven, on le sent à la présence tannique en finale. O=2017 G=18 ans

Decanter Magazine

18,5 / 20

byJames Lawther MWthe4/30/2011

My 'coup de coeur' from the J-P Moueix stable this year. In a vintage of power this exudes elegance and finesse. Lovely fruit expression. Refined tannins. Long, persistent finish. Harmonious. Drink 2020-2040. (18.5 points)

TAST

18-19 / 20

by Bettane & Desseauvethe4/30/2011

Grande précision aromatique, volume velouté en bouche. Droit et complet, alliant raffinement et densité, c’est un très beau pomerol.

Jamessuckling.com

98-99 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe4/30/2011

What a complex nose of dark fruits, truffles and wet earth. Fascinating. Full, yet super long with ultra refined tannins and a long, long finish. It is tannic and muscular but polished and reserved. It’s a wine with refinement and power.

Wine Spectator

96-99 / 100

byJames Molesworththe4/30/2011

This is so creamy and lush, with layers of red, black and purple fruits. Shows muscle on the finish, but the fruit is here in spades, with terrific polish. Very, very long, with power and freshness. Tasted non-blind. —J.M.

The Wine Cellar Insider

94-96 / 100

byJeff Levethe4/25/2011

La Fleur Petrus Fresh picked flowers, Valhrona chocolate and boysenberry liqueur perfume entice your palate to experience layers of refined, silk and velvet plums and black cherries. Luscious, ripe, rich, pure, sweet and long, the wine ends with a chocolate coated, fresh black raspberry liqueur finish 94-96

Jancis Robinson

17 / 20

byJancis Robinsonthe4/15/2011

Bright dark crimson. Ripe and gamey, almost animal. Very strong impact and still embryonic but with lovely savour after the impact of the sweet fruit – but overall the tannin and acid of 2010 make this a very distinctive Fleur Pétrus. Nothing hedonistic about this. And not especially persistent. Drink 2020-2030

Jean-Marc QUARIN

17,5 / 20

byJean-Marc Quarinthe4/11/2011

Ma meilleure note donnée à ce cru en primeur.
Ce sera une grande bouteille, supérieure au 1998.
Couleur sombre et profonde. Superbe nez, frais, fin, fruité et floral. Très belle entrée en bouche pulpeuse. Puis le vin se développe très aromatique, velouté et pour la première fois ample en milieu de bouche. Très savoureux, juteux, il se trame subtilement en finale et s'achève très long, onctueux et incrachable. Superbe! Pour l'instant le vin de presse n'a pas été intégré à l'assemblage, la note pourrait monter.