1970 Château La Fleur-Pétrus Pomerol Bordeaux France Wine Tasting Note

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1970
88
Correct, fully mature, easy to drink, earthy, tobacco tinged, cherry and mushroom-filled, medium-bodied wine that is fully mature and requires drinking. For the vintage, I was hoping it would be better.

Correct, fully mature, easy to drink, earthy, tobacco tinged, cherry and mushroom-filled, medium-bodied wine that is fully mature and requires drinking. For the vintage, I was hoping it would be better.

4,004 Views   Tasted
Decent, but clearly fading, this is a wine that needs to be consumed much sooner than later. Medium bodied, with a but too much acidity, the earthy, cherry and tart plum notes, with their truffle accent were barely hanging on.

Decent, but clearly fading, this is a wine that needs to be consumed much sooner than later. Medium bodied, with a but too much acidity, the earthy, cherry and tart plum notes, with their truffle accent were barely hanging on.

6,266 Views   Tasted

La Fleur Petrus new

Everything about Chateau La Fleur Petrus Pomerol, Bordeaux wine producer profile, with wine tasting notes, wine and food pairing tips, best vintages, wine ratings, a history of the property, information on wine making and terroir, along with wine tasting reviews. If you want to read about other important, Bordeaux Chateaux: Links to all Bordeaux Wine Producer Profiles

Chateau La Fleur Petrus History, Overview

Chateau La Fleur Petrus takes its name from its closest neighbors. The vineyard is situated less than a stones throw from Petrus. You can also walk to Chateau Lafleur as it also abuts the vines in La Fleur Petrus. Not bad company to keep if you're a chateau located on the famous Pomerol plateau.

In 1953, Chateau La Fleur Petrus was purchased by Jean-Pierre Moueix from the Garret family. Prior to that sale, Chateau La Fleur Petrus was the property of numerous owners, including the Arnaud family, who also owned Petrus. Shortly after the initial purchase of the estate in 1953, the vineyard was increased when Jean Pierre Moueix bought 4 additional hectares of vines from neighboring Chateau Le Gay. The classic, French, country styled chateau on the property was built in 1782. Going back as far as the late 1800's, Chateau La Fleur Petrus was already earning a well deserved, good reputation in the late 19th century, when it owned by the Constant family.

The Constant family were well established in Pomerol, as they also owned the well-known and respected estate of Chateau Clinet. At the time, in the early years of the estate, the wines were sold under the name Petrus Lafleur. Petrus Lafleur eventually passed to the Pineau family. It was under their ownership that the name was changed to Chateau La Fleur Petrus. The Pineau family sold Chateau La Fleur Petrus to Jean-Pierre Garret, who as I mentioned earlier, sold the Right Bank estate to Jean Pierre Moueix in 1953

While Chateau La Fleur Petrus had cachet before it was bought by Jean Pierre Moueix, the wine clearly improved when it was taken over by the Moueix family. Shortly after the vineyard was purchased, the vineyards were decimated and had to be replanted after the devastating 1956 frost. Chateau La Fleur Petrus increased their land holdings in 1994, when they added 4 hectares of old vines to their Pomerol vineyards. These vines were obtained once again from their famous neighbor, Chateau Le Gay.

Chateau La Fleur Petrus is a elegant, sensuous, finesse style of Bordeaux wine from Pomerol that in certain years, has the ability to age and gracefully improve for decades. Starting with the sublime 1998 vintage, at La Fleur Petrus, they have been on a roll, increasing the quality, depth and richness of Chateau La Fleur Petrus vintage after vintage. The 2009 La Fleur Petrus is a stunning Pomerol wine and is possibly the finest wine the estate has ever produced! Although the 2010 seems to be giving it a run for the money.

Chateau La Fleur Petrus Vineyards, Terroir, Grapes, Winemaking

The 18.7 hectare Pomerol vineyard of Chateau La Fleur Petrus is located on the northern side of the Pomerol plateau. The vineyard is planted to 91% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot. This marks a large change in the vineyard, which was 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc until about 2012.

You can divide the vineyard of La Fleur Petrus into 3 main blocks, consisting of various smaller parcels. To the north, you find more gravel. In the south of the vineyard is where you encounter more clay and in the middle of their vines you have a slightly warmer micro-climate with more gravel. Located on the famous plateau of Pomerol, at its peak the vineyard rises to 38 meters.

As you can see, most of the terroir is gravel with clay soils. Even though the original vineyard is located just across a small, dirt road from Petrus, and only a single vine away from Chateau Lafleur, the terroir of Chateau La Fleur Petrus is different than you will find at either estate, due to its unique mix of small gravel stones and clay soils. Very little, if any blue clay is found here in the soils.

In 2012, the vineyard of Chateau La Fleur Petrus was increased by almost 4 hectares! That is a lot of land to add to an estate located on the Pomerol plateau. The vines came from a property purchased by Christian Moueix and Edouard Moueix from the Cliquot family, the owners of the little known, but ideally situated, Chateau Guillot. Due to the increase in size for the estate, starting with the 2013 vintage, the wines of Chateau La Fleur Petrus are now being made at Chateau Hosanna, which was also previously known as La Providence, both are top Pomerol estates owned by the Moueix family. However, La Providence is no longer in production.

The new location is more modern and functional. Although the chateau remains classically French in style, it is not the original farmhouse that housed La Fleur Petrus for over 100 years. The new location is also used for small receptions and tastings for Ets. Moueix. Another change for La Fleur Petrus took place starting with the 2015 vintage. For the first time, the wine included a portion of Petit Verdot in the blend.

To produce the wine of Chateau La Fleur Petrus, two laser sorting tables have been in use since 2009. The winery uses thermoregulated concrete vats for vinification and starting in 2004 they began using stainless tanks for the fermentation. Malolactic fermentation takes place in tank. In 2009, along with Petrus and all the other top Moueix properties, they utilized the new, Optical Sorting technology. Chateau La Fleur Petrus is aged in French, oak barrels that range from 33% to as much as 50% new oak for about 18 months. The amount of oak and time in the barrel fluctuates, depending on the quality and style of the vintage. The wine is racked 3-4 times per year and it is fined using egg whites. The average annual production of Chateau La Fleur Petrus is close to 6,000 cases of wine per year.

The best vintages of Chateau La Fleur Petrus are: 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2012, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2006, 2005, 2001, 2000, 1998, 1982, 1961, 1959, 1955, 1950, 1947 and 1945.

Serving and Decanting Chateau La Fleur Petrus with Wine, Food, Pairing Tips

Chateau La Fleur Petrus is best served at 15.5 degrees Celsius, 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The cool, almost cellar temperature gives the wine more freshness and lift. Young vintages can be decanted for 1 -3 hours. This allows the wine to soften and open its perfume. Older vintages might need very little decanting, just enough to remove the sediment. Chateau La Fleur Petrus is best served with all types of classic meat dishes, veal, pork, beef, lamb, duck, game, roast chicken, roasted, braised and grilled dishes. Chateau La Fleur Petrus is also good with Asian dishes, hearty fish courses like tuna, salmon, mushrooms and pasta.

Starting in 1998, the quality of wines produced at Chateau La Fleur Petrus shot up to an entirely new level! 1998, 2000, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2015 and 2016 are compelling vintages of Chateau La Fleur Petrus. But as good as they are, the 2009 and 2010 Chateau La Fleur Petrus are the wines to buy for lovers of decadent, Pomerol wine!

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