2014 Chateau La Fleur-Petrus
France / Bordeaux / Pomerol Rouge
2014 Château La Fleur-Pétrus tasting notes: "A medium depth of darkly pigmented ruby-red color. The aromas are of quite closed-in dark-fruit and chocolatey hints. The palate is dusty, velvety, showing ripe black-cherry fruit with a little crunchy green bite. The medium to rich body is supported by warming alcohol and a well-integrated, velvety, supple, cedary structure. The long finish combines juicy red-cherry fruit with graphite".
James Suckling tasting notes 98/100: "A wine evincing true enlightenment. It’s floral on the nose and also shows blackberries, stones, minerals, and cedar. Full-bodied, yet its so fine-grained and tight. So, so long. It builds like a waterfall on the finish. The tannins are powerful yet superbly integrated and harmonious. Needs four to five years in bottle.”
Wine Enthusiast tasting notes 95/100 (2017): "This is a wine with great balance and elegance as well as richness. With layers of fine dusty tannins it has a warm character that is repeated in the perfumed fruit and juicy acidity. The wine is impressive, likely to age well. Drink from 2024".
Despite a variable Spring, a glorious Indian summer ensured the quality of the vintage. Christian Moueix was forced to do a lot of vineyard work during the vine maturation period, when due to the humidity vegetation was vigorous. An advantage that La Fleur-Pétrus enjoyed in 2014 is that its gravelly soils allowed for fast-draining of the summer rains. La Fleur-Pétrus beautifully handles years like 2014 (and 2012, 2008, 2004, and 2001) where some rain or colder weather enters the picture in spring and summer months.
Ratings vintage 2014:
- James Suckling: 98/100
- Wine Enthusiast: 95/100.
- Falstaff: 95/100.
- Wine Spectator: 94/100.
- Jeannie Cho Lee: 94/100.
- Vinum Wine Magazine: 18.5/20.
From a wine of utter charm, La Fleur-Pétrus has through the developments of the last 20 years become a wine of profound depth and complexity, all the while retaining its irresistible, seductive edge. You could even call it the archetype of Pomerol.
Today the estate is composed 90% Merlot with an average vine age of 30 years and 10% Cabernet Franc with an average vine age of 50 years.
Christian Moueix’ obsessive work in the vineyard focuses on sap flow and the treatment of each vine individually. In the cellar, vinifications are extremely precise but quite traditional.
Over the last 15 years Château La Fleur-Pétrus has become one of the most fascinating and, from a quality standpoint, extraordinary stories in Bordeaux.
A wine borne of a great historic terroir, that through nurture and creativity has become something greater than perhaps could have been imagined, and a bright shining light of Pomerol.
Named for its position between Château Petrus and Château La Fleur, Château La Fleur-Pétrus dates to the 18th century and with a long reputation for producing great wines.
In 1950 Château La Fleur-Pétrus became Jean-Pierre Moueix’ first vineyard purchase. His son Christian has overseen the re-ascension of this estate to the top of Pomerol’s hierarchy, through his incredibly meticulous vineyard care and delicate precision in the cellar, and the addition of two parcels, in 2005 and 2012.