Tasted at Justerini & Brooks agency tasting in London. So far this year, I have tasted the Château Lafleur 1995 twice and it is rapidly becoming my favorite wine of that decade, vying with the 1998. Unlike the 2000, this is now reaching its plateau of maturity after 20 years, though it will remain there for many years. It has a sensual bouquet with wonderful definition: blackberry, bacon fat, hot gravel scents abound and then after 30-40 minutes a sprig of wild mint. Mercurial and captivating—that's a great Lafleur on the nose. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, though they are not quite as filigree and finely chiselled as the 2000. There is unquestionably immense depth here with tertiary black fruit, smoke and black truffle before fanning out in confident fashion on the finish. This is just a superb Lafleur with a long and prosperous life ahead

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Slow-ox'ed for four hours then decanted for three. Undeniably primary, would benefit from a good decade or so of additional cellar time. Nonetheless a fascinating and highly enjoyable Lafleur, with the Cab. Franc dominating, especially on the nose. Over time, its green pepper and coffee grounds bouquet gave way to full-on jalapeno notes. A creamy mouthfeel, seamless, with more green pepper, bitter mocha and some black fruit. The signature gravel was there, but no truffled elements. Fine tannins, pretty well integrated, balancing the wine's acidity very nicely. A much appreciated introduction to Lafleur for my friends, and I expect the wine they'll think about most often from the evening's line-up.

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