Winemaker Notes
Eminently approachable even in its youth, Lafleur-Gazin is a delightful expression of the lighter style of Pomerol wines.
Blend: 100% Merlot
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Sweet plums and savory tobacco with a touch of grilled oranges. Medium- to full-bodied, this has well-etched, chalky tannins and a compact, lengthy finish. Opulent and not high in acid, but there is still a sense of freshness. Drink from 2026.
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Jeb Dunnuck
I loved the 2022 Château Lafleur-Gazin, a spicy, layered, remarkably complex Pomerol that has a rocking core of ripe red and black cherries, medium to full body, a round, layered, yet still focused and precise mouthfeel, and classic Pomerol leafy herbs, chocolate, and earthy goodness on the nose. I love it even today given its balance and elegance, yet I see no reason this shouldn't evolve gracefully over the coming 20-25 years.
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Decanter
Aromatic nose, flowers and purple fruit. Juicy and vibrant initially, a cool, blue fruit and mineral element with wet stone and minty edges. Quite an aerial, delicate style almost but still with an undertone of power and enough acidity to alleviate some of the seriousness. Feels well worked, not trying too hard with supple tannins, energy and toasted spice elements on the finish.
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Vinous
The 2022 Lafleur-Gazin, 100% Merlot, is laced with scents of cedar, pipe tobacco, dried herbs, menthol and coffee. Ripeness feels a bit pushed, but at the same time, fruit is slightly in the background. The challenge here is achieving sufficient phenolic ripeness in the tannins.
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Wine Enthusiast
The wine has a black coffee aroma that sets the scene for a rich wine, black fruits going with chocolate flavors and solid tannins. Drink from 2027.
Cellar Selection -
Wine Spectator
Silky and fresh, with spice-tinged raspberry and blackberry coulis notes that stretch out over the fine-grained structure. Offers pretty tea and singed wood hints on the finish. Drink now through 2035.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Exhibiting aromas of sweet raspberries, cedary oak and spices, the 2022 Lafleur-Gazin is medium to full-bodied, sweet and fleshy, with powdery tannins and a minty finish.
One of the world’s most classic and popular styles of red wine, Bordeaux-inspired blends have spread from their homeland in France to nearly every corner of the New World. Typically based on either Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot and supported by Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, the best of these are densely hued, fragrant, full of fruit and boast a structure that begs for cellar time. Somm Secret—Blends from Bordeaux are generally earthier compared to those from the New World, which tend to be fruit-dominant.
A source of exceptionally sensual and glamorous red wines, Pomerol is actually a rather small appellation in an unassuming countryside. It sits on a plateau immediately northeast of the city of Libourne on the right bank of the Dordogne River. Pomerol and St-Émilion are the stars of what is referred to as Right Bank Bordeaux: Merlot-dominant red blends completed by various amounts of Cabernet Franc or Cabernet Sauvignon. While Pomerol has no official classification system, its best wines are some of the world’s most sought after.
Historically Pomerol attached itself to the larger and more picturesque neighboring region of St-Émilion until the late 1800s when discerning French consumers began to recognize the quality and distinction of Pomerol on its own. Its popularity spread to northern Europe in the early 1900s.
After some notable vintages of the 1940s, the Pomerol producer, Petrus, began to achieve great international attention and brought widespread recognition to the appellation. Its subsequent distribution by the successful Libourne merchant, Jean-Pierre Mouiex, magnified Pomerol's fame after the Second World War.
Perfect for Merlot, the soils of Pomerol—clay on top of well-drained subsoil—help to create wines capable of displaying an unprecedented concentration of color and flavor.
The best Pomerol wines will be intensely hued, with qualities of fresh wild berries, dried fig or concentrated black plum preserves. Aromas may be of forest floor, sifted cocoa powder, anise, exotic spice or toasted sugar and will have a silky, smooth but intense texture.