Chateau La Fleur Petrus 2012

WEINWISSER: "Sattes Purpur-Granat, dicht in der Mitte, lila Schimmer aus sen. Ich habe noch selten eine so tiefe Farbe bei einem Fassmuster von La Fleur-Pétrus gesehen. Fein dropsiges Bouquet, Cassis, Maulbeeren und feine Ansätze von kandierten Früchten, parfümiert und immer mehr Schichten freigebend, absolut faszinierendes Nasenbild. Im Gaumen ist alles perfekt, allerfeinste Tannine, homogener, rahmiger Fluss, Waldbeeren und wieder vollreifes Cassis. Klingt enorm lange und erhaben nach. Wie gesagt: es ist das erste Mal, dass ich nicht widerstehen konnte, einen mittelkleinen Schluck von diesem Fassmuster zu trinken. Ein ganz grosser La Fleur-Pétrus für Mussestunden."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "Tasted blind at the Southwold Bordeaux tasting. The 2012 La Fleur Pétrus has a mint-fresh bouquet, vigorous and vivid, with delineated red cherry, raspberry and cassis fruit under which is a strata of wet limestone. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin. This is a more understated Pomerol but there is real nuance here, black truffle and leather tinging the introspective black fruit. Yet behind that is harmony and finesse, notwithstanding impressive length and sustain. It may be slightly over-shadowed by the sensational Trotanoy, but Pomerol-lovers will lap up this fantastic La Fleur-Petrus from the JP Moueix team."

JEB DUNNUCK: "A blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, the 2012 La Fleur Petrus is a stunning Pomerol that’s certainly up in the top tier of the vintage. Incredibly perfumed and floral, with notions of black cherries, raspberries, dried flowers, forest floor, saddle leather, and cedar, it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, beautiful balance, ripe tannin, and an ethereal, elegant texture that carries ample flavor authority with no sensation of weight. Drink this incredibly fine, elegant, and nuanced beauty any time over the coming three decades."

WINE ENTHUSIAST: "This is a beautiful ripe wine with great tannins enveloped by the velvet texture and sumptuous fruit. The château, a neighbor of Château Pétrus, has produced a concentrated wine, with bountiful Merlot richness. It finishes with great fruitiness. Drink from 2022."

JAMES SUCKLING: "Very perfumed with stones, dark berries, mushrooms and hints of wet earth and nutmeg shell. Full body, chewy tannins and fantastic fruit and purity. Needs time to come together but a fabulous wine for the vintage."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Truffle, licorice and dark cherry aromas create the perfume. The wine is rich, full bodied and concentrated with all the right stuff. That is, if you like fresh, sweet, juicy, ripe, sweet plums and black cherries, coupled with freshness and sensuous, silky, velvet textures. This could get even better as it develops."

WINE SPECTATOR: "One of the successes in this vintage, with alluring bay and tobacco notes already emerging from the core of lush plum, raspberry and red licorice flavors. There's a nice thread of plum pit and charcoal for spine, with alluring earth tones through the finish. —Non-blind La Fleur-Pétrus vertical (December 2015). Best from 2018 through 2028. 2,833 cases made."

FALSTAFF: "Dunkles, dichtes Rubingranat. Schöne Fruchtkonzentration in der Nase, dunkle Beeren, Kirsche, feine Gewürznoten. Am Gaumen ausgewogen, harmonisch, frisch und süß. Samtige Tannine, lang und nachhaltig, eine delikate Form der Opulenz."

DECANTER: "Includes recently purchased parcels (4.7ha) near Le Pin. Fragrant, long and fresh with a little more weight and breadth than in the past."