1999 La Fleur Saint Georges

Among the exciting developments in recent years in Lalande de Pomerol, the property purchased in 1998 by Hubert de Bouard ranks at the top of the list. In 2000, the estate-wide yield was just 40 hectoliters per hectare and no saignee was necessary. The cabernet franc berries were especially tiny in 2000, and the yield in these vines was barely 20 hectoliters per hectare, according to Bouard. Bouard will also offer 3,000 bottles of a special cuvee from the estate oldest merlot vines, planted on a rocky, west-facing slope. Le Plus de la Fleur Saint Georges, with natural alcohol near 15%, is extraordinarily opulent and lush; it truly transcends its appellation. Incidentally, Bouard, who also owns Chateau Angelus, does gentler pumpovers at La Fleur than at Angelus.

Owner Hubert de Bouard, who purchased this property in Lalande de Pomerol in the summer of '98, will offer two cuvees of roughly equal size, the more serious of which, La Fleur de Bouard, is from a higher percentage of merlot and older vines and possesses more structure. It is aged in a much higher percentage of new barrels than the basic bottling from this estate, La Fleur Saint-Georges, which Bouard describes as "more of a food wine." I limit my notes to La Fleur de Bouard, which could make a very good ringer in a Pomerol tasting.