2022 Lafleur, Pomerol

Delivers the density and serious character of Lafleur, but while this is deep in colour it is not impenetrable, with more nuance than many, jewel ruby with vibrant reflections. Clear austerity to the tannins but this is a wine that always takes patience, and it provides a welcome sense of continuity in a vintage where the byword is excess. Confident, careful, precise, with red roses, peony, heather, slate, steel, graphite, incense, blueberry and raspberry fruit, and oyster shell salinity, layered and joyful, with cooling mint leaf on the finish. Jean-Baptiste Guinaudeau so often sets the conversation in a vintage, and he is doing so again here. Harvest September 3 to 17, 30% new oak. Potential 100.

The 2022 Lafleur is a wild, exotic wine. Totally mind-bending, Lafleur completely defies any of the conventional definitions of Pomerol. The aromatics alone are mesmerizing. Red plum, blood orange, espresso, rose petal, crushed rocks and spice all soar out of the glass. The Bouchet (Cabernet Franc) is so expressive here. Even with all of its intensity, the 2022 remains light on its feet. There is simply no other wine like Lafleur on the Right Bank. Magnificent. (AG)