Château Lafleur 2023

The 2023 Lafleur is one of a small number of contenders for the title of wine of the vintage, and it’s one 2023 that appears to surpass its 2022 counterpart. Wafting from the glass with aromas of blackberries, cherries and plums mingled with hints of licorice, violets and mint, it’s full-bodied, deep and layered, with a concentrated core of lively, succulent, pure fruit framed by beautifully refined tannins, concluding with a long, fragrant finish. Its exquisite structure, intensity without weight and ineffable harmony mark it out as a great Lafleur, and one that will be worth a special effort to seek out. It’s a blend of 56% Cabernet Franc and 46% Merlot. (William Kelley,Other)