Wine Advisor
La Fleur Petrus 2010
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Description
Château La Fleur-Pétrus is one of the most renowned vineyards of Pomerol. This historic estate, situated exclusively on the plateau, was named in the 18th century for its position across the localities ‘Petrus’ and ‘La Fleur’. Established in Libourne since 1937, Jean-Pierre Moueix perceived early on the excellent quality of the Pomerol appellation. Château La Fleur-Pétrus was his very first acquisition in 1950. Quickly after, he purchased Château Trotanoy in 1953.
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The La Fleur-Petrus 2010 is the dark horse of Pomerol, the one Right Bank cru that surpassed not only my expectations, but indeed those of everybody else that participated in the tasting. It has a slightly muffled bouquet at first, although it gains clarity with aeration, with marine-influenced black fruit that is neatly folded into the oak. The palate is medium-bodied and the acidity well judged. Structured and quite masculine with fine focus and tension, this is fans out beautifully towards the long, sophisticated finish. This is a supremely well-crafted wine, one to go out and grab now before it's too late. Tasted January 2014.
Reviewed by: William Kelley
The 2010 La Fleur-Pétrus is a striking wine that is beginning to show brilliantly today. Wafting from the glass with a deep bouquet of dark berry and cherry fruit mingled with black truffles, baking chocolate, loamy soil and subtle hints of cigar wrapper. Full-bodied, deep and concentrated, it's rich and layered, with an elegantly muscular profile and a long, resonant finish. This is a dramatic, sensual and beautifully balanced wine that represents the essence of Pomerol.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
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.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
Tasted at JP Moueix. Deep garnet in colour, the La Fleur-Petrus has a ripe, opulent bouquet with blackberry, dark cherries, crushed violet and just a hint of blueberry pie. Good delineation and mineralite here. The palate is full-bodied, powerful, a little spicy on the entry and energetic in the mouth. Very good weight with touches of truffle and a dash of white pepper sprinkled over the dense black fruits, a touch of tar on the tannic finish. There is a lot of bravura on this La Fleur-Petrus though it needs to nurture a little more substance to pull it off. Great potential though. Tasted April 2011.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
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.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
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.
Reviewed by: Lisa Perrotti-Brown
Deep garnet in color, the 2010 la Fleur-Petrus features notes of baked blackberries, boysenberries and plum pudding with nuances of sautéed herbs and tilled soil. Medium to full-bodied, the mid-palate is a little lean, while it has a firm, chewy texture and invigorating finish.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
Served at a mini-vertical at the chateau, the 2010 Chateau La Fleur-Petrus has a very succinct nose that has closed down a little since I last tasted it. The nascent wine is certainly well defined with blackberry, cedar and pleasant, marine-like notes waiting in the wings and wondering whether to enter centre stage later on. Leaving it aside for a few minutes, it develops even greater tension, just a hint of seaweed beginning to emerge. The palate has a pleasant saline note on the entry. Crisp acidity with fine tannins and unapologetically masculine as one would expect for the vintage, it still manages to deliver a refined finish. Excellent. Tasted June 2013.
Reviewed by: Ian d'Agata
Deep ruby-purple. Explosive aromas of blackcurrant, black cherry, violet and flint. Round, silky and broad, with lovely sweetness and perfume to its black fruit and mineral flavors. A big, perfumed, very long Lafleur-Petrus that finishes with fine, rising tannins and a lingering floral aftertaste. One of the best young showings ever for Lafleur-Petrus; this wine needs time: drink from 2018 through 2035.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The 2010 La Fleur-Pétrus does not quite compete with the 2010 Gazin on the nose. It is more low-key than expected with brambly red fruit, loamy soil, wild heather and bay leaf scents, but it just lacks a little intensity. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins. This feels well balanced and poised, a more gentle Pomerol than its peers with a feminine and quite persistent finish. You could drink this now although I would prefer to leave it another couple of years to see if it can replicate its more impressive showing after bottling. Tasted at the BI Wines & Spirits 10-Year On tasting.
Reviewed by: Stephen Tanzer
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.
About the Producer
Château La Fleur-Pétrus is one of the most renowned vineyards of Pomerol. This historic estate, situated exclusively on the plateau, was named in the 18th century for its position across the localities ‘Petrus’ and ‘La Fleur’. Established in Libourne since 1937, Jean-Pierre Moueix perceived early on the excellent quality of the Pomerol appellation. Château La Fleur-Pétrus was his very first acquisition in 1950. Quickly after, he purchased Château Trotanoy in 1953. The personality of Château La Fleur-Pétrus lies in the careful association of the famous gravel and clay terroirs of the plateau of Pomerol. The vineyard, located at 33 to 38 meters above sea level, draws its identity from the nuances of soil and elevation of each parcel. Those parcels which are dominated by gravel tend to yield wines of great elegance, while those dominated by clay are distinctly velvety, dense, and structured. Château La Fleur-Pétrus is composed predominantly of Merlot, which lends silkiness and generosity to the wine. Cabernet Franc, planted on gravel and fine clay, contributes rigor and complexity, while a small percentage of Petit Verdot, planted on fine gravel, offers a hint of spice to the finish. The wine combines a unique elegance with the generosity and structure typical of the great vineyards of Pomerol. An attentive tasting reveals remarkable refinement, complexity, and a touch of violet.
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