2014 Le Plus de la Fleur de Bouard, Lalande de Pomerol

Vinous 89

The 2014 Le Plus de La Fleur de Boüard is Hubert de Boüard’s 100 % old-vine Merlot bottling from his estate in Lalande de Pomerol. Black cherry, plum, tobacco, licorice, menthol, spice and bittersweet chocolate are all pushed forward. This is an especially deep, powerful and super-extracted style, even by de Boüard’s standards. The new oak tannins that the 2014 showed when it was in barrel have never fully integrated. I prefer the straight La Fleur de Boüard in 2014. Tasted two times. [Antonio Galloni, 02/01/2017]

Anticipated maturity: 2017-2026

Robert Parker 88-90

The Le Plus de Bouard 2014 is strangely less expressive, tighter on the nose than the La Fleur de Bouard at this stage. This is stoic and introverted at the moment. The palate is full-bodied and dense with thick, chewy tannin, sinewy in style, but missing persistence on the finish. I actually prefer the sensuality expressed by the La Fleur de Bouard this year, which demonstrates more precision and energy. [Neal Martin, 22/03/2015]

Anticipated maturity: 2018-2030