This shows such gorgeous aromas of cocoa powder, red fruits and berries. Full body, with such pretty silky tannins and an amazing savory, juicy and delicious finish. It makes you want to drink. Superb balance and intensity. So approachable yet structured. More than the second wine of Lafleur.

– jamessuckling.com, November 2013

Les Pensées comes from a tiny 0.7ha finger of vines that reaches across the vineyard of Lafleur. It has been made since Jacques Guinaudeau took over in 1987, but really took its current shape from the end of the 1990s when a soil study showed just how different this stretch of the vineyard is from the rest. And in the 2010 you see exactly what it can do. Rich and deep in colour, with powerful aromatics and a silky texture right from the start, supple at nearly 10 years old but nowhere near ready to quit. This wine has muscular tannins, as with all good 2010s, ripped through with blackberry and raspberry fruits. Charming without sacrificing depth.

Tasted blind at the Southwold Bordeaux 2010 tasting. I must admit that I went totally overboard with my appreciation for this brilliant second wine from the Guinaudeau family. I guess I was just smitten by its style. The Pensees de Lafleur 2010 has an attractive savoury bouquet, a little disjointed but well defined with pencil shavings and singed leather developing with aeration. It gains cohesion in the glass, vigour too. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, well judged acidity and a profound, refined finish that is very complex and quintessential Pomerol. Tasted January 2014.

– eRobertParker.com, Mar 2014

Fleshy and forward, with delicious mulled plum, raspberry and blackberry fruit melded with warm embers, a hint of anise and a long, silky, graphite-tinged finish. Shows lovely range and depth, all within an accessible style. Drink now through 2023.

– James Molesworth (WineSpectator.com, March 2013)

[65M/35CF] Deep purple; dense, cedary, nose; ripe red fruit; fairly concentrated middleweight with a very fine grained, very firm tannin and vivid freshness; a vigorous, vital, intense wine, long and firm and with a certain strength and sinew; long and vivid red fruit and mineral flavour, elegant and firm at once; almost Loire like in its frank Cabernet Franc character (1/3 of the blend); very long and spicy to finish. Lovely – but long term, long future. Charm is not the first word that comes to mind. Strength of personality, yes. Masculinity. 2020-30+ [M.Schuster, Bordeaux Mar/Apr 2011]

The 2010 Les Pensees de Lafleur is 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc. The wine is fresh and lively, with loads of strawberry and black cherry fruit, hints of underbrush and crushed rock, and good length. The final blend seems to be different from what I tasted in early 2011. Drink it over the next 15 years.

Robert Parker (Wine Advocate #205, Feb 2013)

Deep garnet in color, the 2010 Pensées de Lafleur gives up notes of black olives, cedar chest and balsamic over a core of baked plums, blackberry pie and raisin cake. Medium to full-bodied, the mid-palate takes a slight dip while the finish is a little tart and chewy.

Tasted blind. Mid garnet. Refined aroma of sweet dried fruits and a touch of undergrowth. Perhaps a little bit herbaceous but in a good way. Fine boned, sweet fruited and fresh. Fully resolved and much more elegant than most 2010s on the right bank. (JH)