Chateau Lafleur

Chateau Lafleur is a long-established estate filled with mystery, elegance, and modesty, producing pristine wines that rival their Pomerol neighbors, Petrus. Owned by the same family lineage since its creation, this small chateau packs a mighty punch thanks to artisan winemaking and a dedication to tradition. Named "one of the most distinctive, most exotic, and greatest wines" by Robert Parker, Chateau Lafleur continues to cement its name as an incredibly rare and exclusive wine.

Keep It In The Family 

In the mid-18th century, the chateau was a part of the property Le Manoir de Gay, which Henri Greloud then purchased. In 1872, however, he decided to split the property into two estates, Chateau Le Gay and Chateau Lafleur, with each of his sons, owning an estate. The property has since remained in the original Greloud family, with various daughters, nephews, and family members staking their claim at ownership in the chateau's 150+ year history. In 2002, ownership switched hands for the final time as Jacques and Sylvie Guinaudeau have been in charge since 2002, though not without its fair share of controversy. 

Chateau Lafleur's Pomerol Terroir

Located on the northern crest of Pomerol, just 200 meters (650 feet) north of Petrus, Lafleur's 4-hectare vineyard contains a unique terroir in the region. The vineyard sits on a neat square at the center of the plateau and contains four soil types- gravel, sandy gravel, clay, and sand. After taking ownership, the Guinadeaus created detailed soil maps to better understand their "garden terroir." Consequently, they were able to methodically plant to get the best out of their terroir.

About 60% of the vines on the estate are Merlot while the remaining 40% are mainly Cabernet Franc. The vineyard is split into 24 parcels where Merlot and Cabernet France are often planted next to one another.  As the estate sits on the highest elevation in Pomerol, Cabernet Franc grows beautifully here, giving Lafleur an edge over other Pomerol estates. Their wines contain the highest blend of Cabernet Franc of any Pomerol estate, allowing them to reach maximum age-ability. 

Each vine is around 40 years of age, as Lafleur values traditional vine aging. While most estates chose to plant clones after the Great Frost of 1956 wiped out entire vineyards, Lafleur took a calculated risk to replant the original vines on the property to maintain the allure that took the estate to prominence. The result was astonishing, as the Bouchet vines gave the wines inimitable characteristics, aromas, and flavors. Out of the Bordeaux estates, only Lafleur, Cheval Blanc, and Ausone opted to use the old Bouchet, illustrating the prowess of each of these estates. 

Artisan Winemaking Takes The Cake

Chateau Lafleur's small size enables the estate to provide delicate care to each bottling, as the Guinadeau's own an additional estate with only 21 full-time staff split between the estates. Such a small size means that each worker plays a meticulous role in the winemaking, carefully inspecting each grape and manually pruning each vine. These intense, laborious methods are rare in today's fine wine world, where most estates give way to large corporations. Lafleur's decision to let small family ownership lead the way has paid off in making the chateau one of the world's most exclusive estates. Only about 1,000 bottles are made for the grand vin and 250 cases are allocated to the second label, Les Pensees. 

Pomerol's Exotic Giants

While the exclusivity of Lafleur wines adds to each bottle's appeal, the elegance, purity, and depth of the wines are the main attractions. Since 2000, the Wine Spectator has rated their vintages only one point less (on average) than Petrus, while being less than a third of the price. With such incredible flavors and aging at a more affordable cost point, Lafleur arguably offers a better deal than their Pomerol neighbor.

Lafleur has garnered additional praise from Robert Parker, who stated the estate was "one of the most distinctive, most exotic, and greatest wines, not only in Pomerol, but in the world."  He has given the estate a total of six perfect scores, including for the 2000 vintage, which was called "an extraordinary wine" whose "magic should begin to be unleashed" from 2020-2060+.

Enrich Your Cellar With Exclusive Chateau Lafleur Vintages

As one of the most rare bottlings to come out of Pomerol, adding a Lafleur vintage will most certainly set you apart from the rest of the crowd. Experience the elegant flavors, powerful tannins, and rich texture of one of the world's finest.