The nose to this is fascinating with orange peel, mangoes, stones and hints of blanched walnuts. Full-bodied, yet dense and reserved. It shows amazing length and finesse. The finish shows wonderful, subtle and pure fruit. Breathtakingly subtle and complex. Better in 2018 but I love it.

The 2012 Lafleur presents a distinctly red-toned profile to match its silky, open-knit personality. Crushed flowers, sweet red cherry, plum, mint and spices are all nicely layered throughout. Medium in body, the 2012 nevertheless possesses lovely depth and pliancy, both of which suggest it will provide readers with a long window of exceptionally fine drinking. Proprietor Baptiste Guinaudeau describes 2012 as a cool vintage of open-knit wines and compares his 2012 to the 2001. This is a superb showing and one of the standouts of the year. Readers will find many terrific 2012s, but Lafleur is distinguished by its soul, something that is not to easy to find in Bordeaux. The 2012 is 55% Cabernet Franc and 45% Merlot.

The 2012 Lafleur presents a distinctly red-toned profile to match its silky, open-knit personality. Crushed flowers, sweet red cherry, plum, mint and spices are all nicely layered throughout. Medium in body, the 2012 nevertheless possesses lovely depth and pliancy, both of which suggest it will provide readers with a long window of exceptionally fine drinking. Proprietor Baptiste Guinaudeau describes 2012 as a cool vintage of open-knit wines and compares his 2012 to the 2001. This is a superb showing and one of the standouts of the year. Readers will find many terrific 2012s, but Lafleur is distinguished by its soul, something that is not to easy to find in Bordeaux. The 2012 is 55% Cabernet Franc and 45% Merlot.

Deep ruby to the rim, the 2012 Lafleur possesses beautiful kirsch, sweet raspberry fruit, ripe tannin, and a lushness and roundness. It is medium to full-bodied and complex, with an exceptional texture and purity – all hallmarks of this property. This wine should drink well for another 15 or more years.

[54CF/46M] Rich to smell yet discreet; full, fresh, refined, subtly fleshy, a beautifully harmonious wine with a particularly fine texture; long, sweet, pure and graceful with a very fine grained tannin; a long, gentle, feminine expression of Pomerol, a lovely complexity, all charm, finesse, transparency, and very fine, fragrant length. Quietly spoken, but no less impressive for that. 2022-30+ [M.Schuster, Bordeaux Mar/Apr 2013]

54% Cabernet Franc (picked 6 October), 46% Merlot (23 September). Very dark with opaque core. Dusty/mineral (that's positive, almost white pepper) fragrance. Pure dark, elegant, restrained fruit. Incredibly silky and fresh and elegant. Doesn't have that papery grip of the Pensées. Very long given its delicacy – almost a lightness – on the palate. More and more fragrant as it opens up. (JH)