1978 Chateau Lafleur, Pomerol, Bottle (750ml) [Top Shoulder]

AG97 "The 1978 Lafleur is a vintage that I have been fortunate to taste several times. This was a great showing for what transpired to be the penultimate great Lafleur during the era of the Robin sisters (their final great Lafleur, the 1979.) It has a very well defined nose with impressive fruit concentration considering both its age and growing season. There are lovely inky black fruits in situ, almost floral in style, pressed iris and violet that gain intensity with every swirl of the glass and subsequently developing ferrous, tertiary notes. The palate is extremely well balanced with a sweet core of black fruit so uncommon in 1978. I find a wonderful edginess to this Lafleur, fresh from start to finish. Veins of black truffle and graphite towards the end that becomes Burgundian in texture after 30 to 40 minutes in the glass. It is just a magnificent wine, heads above anything else in this vintage. Tasted at the “Business and Wine” Lafleur dinner at Ten Trinity. (Drink between 2018-2030)" Neal Martin for Vinous, Nov 2018