Pensees Lafleur Pomerol 1996

Category:
 
Red Wines
Sub-Category:  
 
Red Wines
Producer:
 
Pensees Lafleur
Label Name:
 
Pomerol
Vintage:
 
1996
Country:
 
France
Region:
 
Pomerol (Bordeaux)
Volume:
 
750ml
ABV:
 
13%
Grape(s):
 
Merlot (50%), Cabernet Franc (50%)
Acidity:
 
3
Tannins:
 
3
Sweetness:
 
1
Body:
 
4
Length:
 
4
Aroma Intensity:
 
4
Best Temperature:
 
16-18°C

Awards/Ratings
Market & critic scores vary by source; commonly cited range ~90–94 points (examples: Wine Spectator cited ~93 for Pensées vintages; merchant listings report 90–94)

Tasting Note
Ripe plum, black cherry and cassis with tobacco, truffle and cedar notes. Silky, rounded texture, gentle earthy minerality and a long, savory finish with mature tertiary aromas of leather and forest floor.

Food Pairing
Western: roast lamb, beef short ribs, duck confit, mushroom risotto. Asian: Peking duck, char siu, Korean barbecue (galbi), braised beef with soy and star anise.

Production Method
Hand-harvested, traditional fermentation in tank with pump-overs; pressed and matured ~18 months in barriques (approx. 50% new oak). Minimal intervention, gravity work in cellars.

Vineyard Info
Château Lafleur is a small, family-run 4.5 ha Pomerol estate (Guinaudeau family). Produces limited quantities of Château Lafleur and Les Pensées, focused on low yields and meticulous viticulture.