A striking wine from the limestone plateau of Fronsac planted with massale selections from Lafleur, the 2019 Les Perrières de Lafleur is indecently good. Bursting with aromas of raspberries, violets, warm spices and rose petals, it's full-bodied, deep and concentrated, with a racy, tensile profile and a long, intensely mineral finish. Les Perrières de Lafleur is compelling testimony to the primacy of vine genetics over age, as the Cabernet Franc here is a mere 3-4 years old and the Merlot 7-8, yet the resulting wine already boasts incredible intensity and character. It certainly puts the "Supérieur" in the appellation "Bordeaux Supérieur."

The 2019 Les Perrières (formerly "Acte G") is a blend of 59% Cabernet Franc and 41% Merlot grown on "hardcore limestone" under thin soil. This has another very pure bouquet of black cherries, boysenberry, incense and light violet aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with a detailed entry, very minerally, focused and terroir-driven, leading to a grippy, almost saturnine finish. This will require 3–4 years in bottle. Excellent.

The 2019 Les Perrières, is driven by strong Franc inflections. Mocha, dried flowers, lavender, rose petal and spice lend gorgeous aromatic intensity throughout. Clean veins of saline minerality from these limestone-rich soils give the 2019 a real sense of energy that is absolutely compelling. This is such a gorgeous wine. I would give the 2019 a few years to come together.

Tasted blind. Dark crimson. Complete, rich nose. Lots of vitality. Velvety texture. Just not overdone! But there is still a very drying finish. (JR)