2008  La Fleur Morange                          RATING :  94 points
ESTIMATED COST:           $43-$50
A remarkable achievement, from vines cropped at very low yields, the 2008 La Fleur Morange is also sensational. According to Claude Gros, this wine hit 14% natural alcohol, in a vintage where the average was around 13% to 13.5%. Dense purple in color, it possesses intense blueberry and dark raspberry jam notes intermixed with camphor, crushed rock, and spring flowers. Full-bodied, unctuously textured, long and stunningly pure, this wine should drink well for at least 10-15 years.
This was a terrific discovery by Jeffrey Davies of Signature Selections, an American wine broker who has lived in Bordeaux for over 30 years. Both the 2008 and 2010 cuvees are remarkable efforts.
 
 
2007   ntsLa Fleur Morange                         RATING : 92 points 
 
 
                                                                                                                                                                                             ESTIMATED COST                                                                                                                                           
 A more serious effort, the 2007 La Fleur Morange (70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc) is one of the vintage’s top wines. Its
dense ruby/purple color is accompanied by notes of raspberries, incense, Christmas fruitcake, and spice box. Surprisingly full-bodied (13.5% alcohol) with good density and richness, this is a big yet velvety textured wine to drink over the next decade or more.
2006  La Fleur Morange   RATING 88 points
The basic cuvee, the 2006 La Fleur Morange, exhibits a dense ruby/purple color as well as more tannin and structure. Although it is a bigger wine, I do not like it as much as the Mathilde, which is more fruit-forward and exotic. Nevertheless, there is a lot going on in La Fleur Morange. It requires 3-4 years of bottle age to resolve the tannins, and it should drink well for 10-12 years.
 
2005  La Fleur Morange                         RATING : 96 points
ESTIMATED COST:           $99-$152
 
This wine has turned out beautifully from bottle, far superior to the impressive barrel samples! Sadly, production is limited to a mere 350 cases. Dense purple to the rim, with a superb bouquet of acacia flowers, blueberries, black currants, and crushed rocks, the wine’s oak component is completely obscured by the wealth of fruit and overall rich, concentrated style. As I have indicated in the past, this blend of 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc emerges from a vineyard averaging 100 years of age. Yields are a tiny 21 hectoliters per hectare. This exquisite St.-Emilion should be accessible in 5-7 years, and last for 25 or more. Kudos to the brilliant oenologist, Claude Gros, who produced this masterpiece.