La Fleur Petrus 2012

robert_parker96

Reviewed by: Neal Martin

Tasted blind at the Southwold Bordeaux tasting. The 2012 La Fleur Pétrus has a mint-fresh bouquet, vigorous and vivid, with delineated red cherry, raspberry and cassis fruit under which is a strata of wet limestone. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin. This is a more understated Pomerol but there is real nuance here, black truffle and leather tinging the introspective black fruit. Yet behind that is harmony and finesse, notwithstanding impressive length and sustain. It may be slightly over-shadowed by the sensational Trotanoy, but Pomerol-lovers will lap up this fantastic La Fleur-Petrus from the JP Moueix team. Tasted January 2016.

robert_parker96

Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.

The stunning 2012 La Fleur Petrus clearly merits its striking moniker. A blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, it offers a dense purple color along with a big, sweet kiss of mulberry jam intermixed with black cherries, raspberries and even blacker fruits as well as a subtle touch of oak. The wine is full, rich, concentrated and moderately tannic. It is nearly as good as the 2010 and 2009. However, some structural tannins suggest 4-5 years of bottle age will be warranted, and the wine is capable of lasting a quarter of a century. Another incredible success story from Pomerol, this estate (which has been elevated in quality considerably over recent vintages) harvested their fruit between September 24 and October 11. Christian Moueix told me that just about all of the Pomerol wines for which he was responsible came in between 13.8% and 14.2% alcohol.

robert_parker97

Reviewed by: Neal Martin

The La Fleur Petrus has a lovely bouquet that to be frank puts both Latour-a-Pomerol and the Hosanna in the shade – dark berries, salted liquorice, dried herbs and a touch of smoke. It is complex and cerebral. The palate is medium-bodied with ripe, very fine tannins. The acidity is nicely judged and there is a cohesiveness and focus that makes this the finest cru under Christian Moueix this year. And if they add that additional plot...who knows what it might achieve Tasted April 2013.

robert_parker95

Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.

Christian Moueix and his winemaking team have done a remarkable job over the last decade to bring La Fleur-Petrus into the league of Pomerol’s titans. Now a worthy rival to Trotanoy, Petrus, La Fleur, Le Gay, La Violette and Vieux Chateau Certan, the dense ruby/purple 2012 La Fleur-Petrus has beautiful silky tannins, and stunning rich black cherry and blackcurrant fruit, medium to full-bodied mouthfeel, stunning purity, symmetry and overall character and complexity. This beauty should drink well for another 15-20 years. The final blend is classic – 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc.

vinous96

Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni

Exotic and explosive in the glass, the 2012 La Fleur-Pétrus is another standout in the Moueix portfolio. Graphite, smoke, incense and plum are some of the notes that open up in this exquisite bouquet. The 2012 possesses remarkable depth and intensity for the year. Gravel, smoke, sage, wild flowers, game and tobacco add the final shades of nuance on a powerful, virile finish endowed with remarkable salinity and freshness from the Cabernet Franc.

vinous93

Reviewed by: Ian d'Agata

Bright red. Highly complex, soil-inflected nose hints at ripe dark plum, dried violet, minerals and mint. Silky and supple, with ripe, tactile black fruit and spicy mocha flavors on the palate. Finishes broad and long, with tannins that are firm but not hard and a whiplash of bright red fruit cocktail.

vinous90

Reviewed by: Neal Martin

The 2012 La Fleur-Pétrus has a well defined nose: red fruit mixed with leather and undergrowth, wild heather and sage. The palate is medium-bodied with pliant, quite fine tannins that frame the spicy red fruit, silky smooth with a caressing, sensual and rather irony finish. The second bottle at Bordeaux Index demonstrated a little more dryness on the finish. Tasted blind at the Southwold Ten-Year On tasting.