Pétrus vs Lafleur vs Le Pin

6 vintage face-off (2006-2011) Pétrus vs Lafleur vs Le Pin vs alternating Pomerol pirate. The tasting was hosted by a private collector and moderated by J-M Quarin. The wines were served in vintage flights of 4 and not decanted. Main observations were: 1/ Le Pin knocked it out of the park coming in first in 4 out of 6 vintages while Pétrus came in last with not a single vintage win (Lafleur came in best in two off-vintages, 2006 and 2008), 2/ The best overall vintage was 2009 (runner-up 2010) while 2006 came in last (scoring range 85-92), 3/ best bottle was Le Pin 2009 (99), followed by Pétrus 2010 and Le Pin 2010 (98 each), 4/ best pirate was Clos L’Eglise 2009 (97). List of wines per score included in the tasting story.

Le Pin
2009: 99
2010: 98
2011: 97
2004: 94
2008: 93
2006: 85

Pétrus
2009: 98
2011: 94
2010: 92
2006: 91
2004: 90
2008: 88

Lafleur
2010: 95
2008: 95
2009: 92
2004: 92
2006: 92
2011: 91

Pirates
Clos L’Eglise 2009: 97
La Violette 2008: 95
Trotanoy 2004: 94
La Conseillante 2010: 94
La Fleur Pétrus 2011: 93
L’Eglise Clinet 2006: 89

• 2011 Château Le Pin 97 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol

  6 vintage face-off (2006-2011) Pétrus vs Lafleur vs Le Pin vs alternating Pomerol pirate. The wines were served in vintage flights of 4 and not decanted. Main observations were: 1/ Le Pin knocked it out of the park coming in first in 4 out of 6 vintages while Pétrus came in last with not a single vintage win (Lafleur came in best in two off-vintages, 2006 and 2008), 2/ The best overall vintage was 2009 (runner-up 2010) while 2006 came in last (scoring range 85-92), 3/ best bottle was Le Pin 2009 (99), followed by Pétrus 2010 and Le Pin 2010 (98 each), 4/ best pirate was Clos L’Eglise 2009 (97). List of wines per score included in the tasting story.
  
  Tasting note:
  Dense with a leathery touch and earthy base notes. Concentrated dark and red cherry fruit with waves of tobacco, coffee notes and cigar box. Vibrant acidity with soft yet noticeable tannin. This was an absolute stunner in a mid-tier vintage and without a doubt put its peers to shame.

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• 2011 Château Lafleur 91 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol

  6 vintage face-off (2006-2011) Pétrus vs Lafleur vs Le Pin vs alternating Pomerol pirate. The wines were served in vintage flights of 4 and not decanted. Main observations were: 1/ Le Pin knocked it out of the park coming in first in 4 out of 6 vintages while Pétrus came in last with not a single vintage win (Lafleur came in best in two off-vintages, 2006 and 2008), 2/ The best overall vintage was 2009 (runner-up 2010) while 2006 came in last (scoring range 85-92), 3/ best bottle was Le Pin 2009 (99), followed by Pétrus 2010 and Le Pin 2010 (98 each), 4/ best pirate was Clos L’Eglise 2009 (97). List of wines per score included in the tasting story.
  
  Tasting note:
  This felt a bit tired at first, noticeably alcoholic with a borderline raisin-like profile of blue and red berry fruit. Also the scale leaned to the acidic side on the palate, not quite enough structure with slightly unripe tannin. A tough start, but even a few minutes of aeration already helped to bring the pieces together with additional herbal complexity emerging and taking the focus off the fruit. An ok wine overall, but paling against Le Pin in this vintage.

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• 2011 Pétrus

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol

  6 vintage face-off (2006-2011) Pétrus vs Lafleur vs Le Pin vs alternating Pomerol pirate. The wines were served in vintage flights of 4 and not decanted. Main observations were: 1/ Le Pin knocked it out of the park coming in first in 4 out of 6 vintages while Pétrus came in last with not a single vintage win (Lafleur came in best in two off-vintages, 2006 and 2008), 2/ The best overall vintage was 2009 (runner-up 2010) while 2006 came in last (scoring range 85-92), 3/ best bottle was Le Pin 2009 (99), followed by Pétrus 2010 and Le Pin 2010 (98 each), 4/ best pirate was Clos L’Eglise 2009 (97). List of wines per score included in the tasting story.
  
  Tasting note:
  Very ripe red berry fruit, scorched earth, tobacco with a beautiful perfume overlay. The palate was elegant and fresh with a nice texture, but maybe not as structured as it could be. The purity of fruit becomes more dominant with a fine lace of liquorish as a nice add-on.

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• 2011 Château La Fleur-Pétrus 93 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol

  6 vintage face-off (2006-2011) Pétrus vs Lafleur vs Le Pin vs alternating Pomerol pirate. The wines were served in vintage flights of 4 and not decanted. Main observations were: 1/ Le Pin knocked it out of the park coming in first in 4 out of 6 vintages while Pétrus came in last with not a single vintage win (Lafleur came in best in two off-vintages, 2006 and 2008), 2/ The best overall vintage was 2009 (runner-up 2010) while 2006 came in last (scoring range 85-92), 3/ best bottle was Le Pin 2009 (99), followed by Pétrus 2010 and Le Pin 2010 (98 each), 4/ best pirate was Clos L’Eglise 2009 (97). List of wines per score included in the tasting story.
  
  Tasting note:
  Sweet spice, cedar, fine pipe tobacco, nice red cherry and raspberry fruit. layered and elegant with a tense palate, but not well integrated (yet).

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• 2004 Château Trotanoy 94 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol

  6 vintage face-off (2006-2011) Pétrus vs Lafleur vs Le Pin vs alternating Pomerol pirate. The wines were served in vintage flights of 4 and not decanted. Main observations were: 1/ Le Pin knocked it out of the park coming in first in 4 out of 6 vintages while Pétrus came in last with not a single vintage win (Lafleur came in best in two off-vintages, 2006 and 2008), 2/ The best overall vintage was 2009 (runner-up 2010) while 2006 came in last (scoring range 85-92), 3/ best bottle was Le Pin 2009 (99), followed by Pétrus 2010 and Le Pin 2010 (98 each), 4/ best pirate was Clos L’Eglise 2009 (97). List of wines per score included in the tasting story.
  
  Tasting note:
  Wet earth, ripe dark berry and raspberry with some brighter, sweeter accents too. With a bit of aeration the fruit profile narrowed into predominantly plum-like flavours. Amazingly floral with a dimension of perfume. Palate shows vibrant with grippy tannin and lots of tension, but very fresh overall.

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• 2004 Pétrus 90 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol

  6 vintage face-off (2006-2011) Pétrus vs Lafleur vs Le Pin vs alternating Pomerol pirate. The wines were served in vintage flights of 4 and not decanted. Main observations were: 1/ Le Pin knocked it out of the park coming in first in 4 out of 6 vintages while Pétrus came in last with not a single vintage win (Lafleur came in best in two off-vintages, 2006 and 2008), 2/ The best overall vintage was 2009 (runner-up 2010) while 2006 came in last (scoring range 85-92), 3/ best bottle was Le Pin 2009 (99), followed by Pétrus 2010 and Le Pin 2010 (98 each), 4/ best pirate was Clos L’Eglise 2009 (97). List of wines per score included in the tasting story.
  
  Tasting note:
  Nice leather, smoke and foliage with a concentrated ripe fruit. This transports to the palate which was also presented itself with ripe fruit. Mouthcoating tannin left you with a sense of lacking integration and an imbalanced structure.

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• 2004 Château Lafleur 92 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol

  6 vintage face-off (2006-2011) Pétrus vs Lafleur vs Le Pin vs alternating Pomerol pirate. The wines were served in vintage flights of 4 and not decanted. Main observations were: 1/ Le Pin knocked it out of the park coming in first in 4 out of 6 vintages while Pétrus came in last with not a single vintage win (Lafleur came in best in two off-vintages, 2006 and 2008), 2/ The best overall vintage was 2009 (runner-up 2010) while 2006 came in last (scoring range 85-92), 3/ best bottle was Le Pin 2009 (99), followed by Pétrus 2010 and Le Pin 2010 (98 each), 4/ best pirate was Clos L’Eglise 2009 (97). List of wines per score included in the tasting story.
  
  Tasting note:
  Dried leaves, barnyard and cool cellar notes beautifully juxtaposed with fine floral notes and fresh, even if quite ripe, red berries. Palate was a bit rustic, mid-palate was lacking and tannins were of a mouth-drying nature. This did develop a bit in the short period it had in the glass, adding a nice fresh herbal complexity, but was definitely no blow-out.

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• 2004 Château Le Pin 94 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol

  6 vintage face-off (2006-2011) Pétrus vs Lafleur vs Le Pin vs alternating Pomerol pirate. The wines were served in vintage flights of 4 and not decanted. Main observations were: 1/ Le Pin knocked it out of the park coming in first in 4 out of 6 vintages while Pétrus came in last with not a single vintage win (Lafleur came in best in two off-vintages, 2006 and 2008), 2/ The best overall vintage was 2009 (runner-up 2010) while 2006 came in last (scoring range 85-92), 3/ best bottle was Le Pin 2009 (99), followed by Pétrus 2010 and Le Pin 2010 (98 each), 4/ best pirate was Clos L’Eglise 2009 (97). List of wines per score included in the tasting story.
  
  Tasting note:
  Sweet and sexy character with cigar box, perfumed smoke and perfectly extracted fresh red berry fruit. The palate was not quite as elegant and weightless as it could be, but a comparatively strong performance for the vintage.

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• 2008 Château Lafleur 95 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol

  6 vintage face-off (2006-2011) Pétrus vs Lafleur vs Le Pin vs alternating Pomerol pirate. The wines were served in vintage flights of 4 and not decanted. Main observations were: 1/ Le Pin knocked it out of the park coming in first in 4 out of 6 vintages while Pétrus came in last with not a single vintage win (Lafleur came in best in two off-vintages, 2006 and 2008), 2/ The best overall vintage was 2009 (runner-up 2010) while 2006 came in last (scoring range 85-92), 3/ best bottle was Le Pin 2009 (99), followed by Pétrus 2010 and Le Pin 2010 (98 each), 4/ best pirate was Clos L’Eglise 2009 (97). List of wines per score included in the tasting story.
  
  Tasting note:
  This initially left you with a lactic, boiled egg character along with some earthy notes and mushrooms. Fruit rather in the background, but coming forward with a bit of aeration with the lactic notes dissipating into a nice and earthy frame. Dense and concentrated, but hitting the extraction G-spot. On the palate fresh and muscular while showing nice integration with the grippy tannins built well into the structure.

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• 2008 Pétrus 88 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol

  6 vintage face-off (2006-2011) Pétrus vs Lafleur vs Le Pin vs alternating Pomerol pirate. The wines were served in vintage flights of 4 and not decanted. Main observations were: 1/ Le Pin knocked it out of the park coming in first in 4 out of 6 vintages while Pétrus came in last with not a single vintage win (Lafleur came in best in two off-vintages, 2006 and 2008), 2/ The best overall vintage was 2009 (runner-up 2010) while 2006 came in last (scoring range 85-92), 3/ best bottle was Le Pin 2009 (99), followed by Pétrus 2010 and Le Pin 2010 (98 each), 4/ best pirate was Clos L’Eglise 2009 (97). List of wines per score included in the tasting story.
  
  Tasting note:
  This was very extracted, still leaving you with a flavor profile of red berries, a bit of leather and mineral notes, but completely overpowering. Palate not much better, lacking harmony and wooden. Quarin thought this was brett and didn’t seem to mind that much, but the broader consensus in the room was pretty underwhelmed.

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• 2008 Château La Violette 95 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol

  6 vintage face-off (2006-2011) Pétrus vs Lafleur vs Le Pin vs alternating Pomerol pirate. The wines were served in vintage flights of 4 and not decanted. Main observations were: 1/ Le Pin knocked it out of the park coming in first in 4 out of 6 vintages while Pétrus came in last with not a single vintage win (Lafleur came in best in two off-vintages, 2006 and 2008), 2/ The best overall vintage was 2009 (runner-up 2010) while 2006 came in last (scoring range 85-92), 3/ best bottle was Le Pin 2009 (99), followed by Pétrus 2010 and Le Pin 2010 (98 each), 4/ best pirate was Clos L’Eglise 2009 (97). List of wines per score included in the tasting story.
  
  Tasting note:
  Beautifully layered aromas of sweet spice, cigar box, vanilla bean along with an array of roasted coffee beans, mocha and expresso. Lots of structure and all in great balance, even if this still felt very young an primary, much more so than Lafleur for example.

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• 2008 Château Le Pin 93 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol

  6 vintage face-off (2006-2011) Pétrus vs Lafleur vs Le Pin vs alternating Pomerol pirate. The wines were served in vintage flights of 4 and not decanted. Main observations were: 1/ Le Pin knocked it out of the park coming in first in 4 out of 6 vintages while Pétrus came in last with not a single vintage win (Lafleur came in best in two off-vintages, 2006 and 2008), 2/ The best overall vintage was 2009 (runner-up 2010) while 2006 came in last (scoring range 85-92), 3/ best bottle was Le Pin 2009 (99), followed by Pétrus 2010 and Le Pin 2010 (98 each), 4/ best pirate was Clos L’Eglise 2009 (97). List of wines per score included in the tasting story.
  
  Tasting note:
  Nice and for the vintage surprisingly little extracted fresh fruit, unfortunately couldn‘t help noting faint cardboard as well which once noted, wouldn‘t go away. Felt slightly green with intense herbal notes. Couldn‘t quite get my head around whether this was slightly flawed or not, but to completeness sake should add that the rest of the gang didn‘t seem to notice. Palate was still very young and far from ready (unlike Violette which was similarly young but in better balance) with mouthcoating and drying tannin. But beyond this initial impression, after a few minutes of aeration I have to admit I ended up liking this quite a bit.

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• 2006 Pétrus 91 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol

  6 vintage face-off (2006-2011) Pétrus vs Lafleur vs Le Pin vs alternating Pomerol pirate. The wines were served in vintage flights of 4 and not decanted. Main observations were: 1/ Le Pin knocked it out of the park coming in first in 4 out of 6 vintages while Pétrus came in last with not a single vintage win (Lafleur came in best in two off-vintages, 2006 and 2008), 2/ The best overall vintage was 2009 (runner-up 2010) while 2006 came in last (scoring range 85-92), 3/ best bottle was Le Pin 2009 (99), followed by Pétrus 2010 and Le Pin 2010 (98 each), 4/ best pirate was Clos L’Eglise 2009 (97). List of wines per score included in the tasting story.
  
  Tasting note:
  Aromatic, fruit-forward profile with ripe and primary fruit of red berry and fig. Also elements of leather and sweet spice. Palate quite rustic, lots of acidity, lots of tannin but not really in harmony.

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• 2006 Château L'Eglise-Clinet 89 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol

  6 vintage face-off (2006-2011) Pétrus vs Lafleur vs Le Pin vs alternating Pomerol pirate. The wines were served in vintage flights of 4 and not decanted. Main observations were: 1/ Le Pin knocked it out of the park coming in first in 4 out of 6 vintages while Pétrus came in last with not a single vintage win (Lafleur came in best in two off-vintages, 2006 and 2008), 2/ The best overall vintage was 2009 (runner-up 2010) while 2006 came in last (scoring range 85-92), 3/ best bottle was Le Pin 2009 (99), followed by Pétrus 2010 and Le Pin 2010 (98 each), 4/ best pirate was Clos L’Eglise 2009 (97). List of wines per score included in the tasting story.
  
  Tasting note:
  Slightly milky color, I found. Ripe blue berry fruit, some graphite and leather, but all felt quite heavy-handed und blurry. Again rustic on the palate and rather austere with drying tannin.

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• 2006 Château Le Pin 85 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol

  6 vintage face-off (2006-2011) Pétrus vs Lafleur vs Le Pin vs alternating Pomerol pirate. The wines were served in vintage flights of 4 and not decanted. Main observations were: 1/ Le Pin knocked it out of the park coming in first in 4 out of 6 vintages while Pétrus came in last with not a single vintage win (Lafleur came in best in two off-vintages, 2006 and 2008), 2/ The best overall vintage was 2009 (runner-up 2010) while 2006 came in last (scoring range 85-92), 3/ best bottle was Le Pin 2009 (99), followed by Pétrus 2010 and Le Pin 2010 (98 each), 4/ best pirate was Clos L’Eglise 2009 (97). List of wines per score included in the tasting story.
  
  Tasting note:
  For 2016 a fresher fruit than the rest, but also with whiffs of either cardboard of cellar must that could be mistaken as cork stain.

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• 2006 Château Lafleur 92 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol

  6 vintage face-off (2006-2011) Pétrus vs Lafleur vs Le Pin vs alternating Pomerol pirate. The wines were served in vintage flights of 4 and not decanted. Main observations were: 1/ Le Pin knocked it out of the park coming in first in 4 out of 6 vintages while Pétrus came in last with not a single vintage win (Lafleur came in best in two off-vintages, 2006 and 2008), 2/ The best overall vintage was 2009 (runner-up 2010) while 2006 came in last (scoring range 85-92), 3/ best bottle was Le Pin 2009 (99), followed by Pétrus 2010 and Le Pin 2010 (98 each), 4/ best pirate was Clos L’Eglise 2009 (97). List of wines per score included in the tasting story.
  
  Tasting note:
  A cheese note kind of pops up from the glass which adds a distinctive, even if not necessarily pleasant, feature. There was also a fleshy, meaty dimension along with a bit more refined, quite fresh fruit. Palate was less tannic than for the others in the vintage, but that just left too much acidity.

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• 2010 Château Lafleur 95 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol

  6 vintage face-off (2006-2011) Pétrus vs Lafleur vs Le Pin vs alternating Pomerol pirate. The wines were served in vintage flights of 4 and not decanted. Main observations were: 1/ Le Pin knocked it out of the park coming in first in 4 out of 6 vintages while Pétrus came in last with not a single vintage win (Lafleur came in best in two off-vintages, 2006 and 2008), 2/ The best overall vintage was 2009 (runner-up 2010) while 2006 came in last (scoring range 85-92), 3/ best bottle was Le Pin 2009 (99), followed by Pétrus 2010 and Le Pin 2010 (98 each), 4/ best pirate was Clos L’Eglise 2009 (97). List of wines per score included in the tasting story.
  
  Tasting note:
  Beautifully sculped ripe red fruit with elements of plum and maybe even fresh fig. Clearly extracted but in a great way. Iron-like minerality and fine undertones of wet earth and sautéed mushroom. Immensely fresh with electric acidity, lots of tension and showing impeccable balance. Great in its purity, even if very young. I think this could develop into the high 90ies given another 5-10 years in the bottle easily! Made a similar observation 2 years ago.

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• 2010 Château La Conseillante 94 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol

  6 vintage face-off (2006-2011) Pétrus vs Lafleur vs Le Pin vs alternating Pomerol pirate. The wines were served in vintage flights of 4 and not decanted. Main observations were: 1/ Le Pin knocked it out of the park coming in first in 4 out of 6 vintages while Pétrus came in last with not a single vintage win (Lafleur came in best in two off-vintages, 2006 and 2008), 2/ The best overall vintage was 2009 (runner-up 2010) while 2006 came in last (scoring range 85-92), 3/ best bottle was Le Pin 2009 (99), followed by Pétrus 2010 and Le Pin 2010 (98 each), 4/ best pirate was Clos L’Eglise 2009 (97). List of wines per score included in the tasting story.
  
  Tasting note:
  A touch of Williams emanates through the pure, detailed and precise red berry fruit. In the mix you’ll also find sweet accents, a few herbs, floral notes and a pinch of leather. High-octane palate, tannins with a firm grip, but in good harmony. Adds a chemical, acrylic dimension along with fresher herbs.

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• 2010 Château Le Pin 98 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol

  6 vintage face-off (2006-2011) Pétrus vs Lafleur vs Le Pin vs alternating Pomerol pirate. The wines were served in vintage flights of 4 and not decanted. Main observations were: 1/ Le Pin knocked it out of the park coming in first in 4 out of 6 vintages while Pétrus came in last with not a single vintage win (Lafleur came in best in two off-vintages, 2006 and 2008), 2/ The best overall vintage was 2009 (runner-up 2010) while 2006 came in last (scoring range 85-92), 3/ best bottle was Le Pin 2009 (99), followed by Pétrus 2010 and Le Pin 2010 (98 each), 4/ best pirate was Clos L’Eglise 2009 (97). List of wines per score included in the tasting story.
  
  Tasting note:
  Nice espresso, dark chocolate and a nicely extracted sweet red berry (raspberry) fruit appear first. This is complemented in a cascade of tobacco and coca cola and an array of forest berries. The palate is dense and tightly textured with great weight to it from attack to finish. Smooth as silk despite still grippy tannin. Incredible precision really elevates the complexity. At the same time, there is a lightness that provides for an inoffensiveness and elegant character. A truly majestic wine and top 3 in this tasting!

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• 2010 Pétrus 92 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol

  6 vintage face-off (2006-2011) Pétrus vs Lafleur vs Le Pin vs alternating Pomerol pirate. The wines were served in vintage flights of 4 and not decanted. Main observations were: 1/ Le Pin knocked it out of the park coming in first in 4 out of 6 vintages while Pétrus came in last with not a single vintage win (Lafleur came in best in two off-vintages, 2006 and 2008), 2/ The best overall vintage was 2009 (runner-up 2010) while 2006 came in last (scoring range 85-92), 3/ best bottle was Le Pin 2009 (99), followed by Pétrus 2010 and Le Pin 2010 (98 each), 4/ best pirate was Clos L’Eglise 2009 (97). List of wines per score included in the tasting story.
  
  Tasting note:
  Felt a bit heavy-handed in terms of oak deployment. Pretty extracted with the fruit leaning towards plum. Some fresher herbal layers. Quite a brute at this stage. The palate more fruity and fresh, but not really expressive with the last few drops exhibiting a nice sense of purity.

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• 2009 Pétrus 98 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol

  6 vintage face-off (2006-2011) Pétrus vs Lafleur vs Le Pin vs alternating Pomerol pirate. The wines were served in vintage flights of 4 and not decanted. Main observations were: 1/ Le Pin knocked it out of the park coming in first in 4 out of 6 vintages while Pétrus came in last with not a single vintage win (Lafleur came in best in two off-vintages, 2006 and 2008), 2/ The best overall vintage was 2009 (runner-up 2010) while 2006 came in last (scoring range 85-92), 3/ best bottle was Le Pin 2009 (99), followed by Pétrus 2010 and Le Pin 2010 (98 each), 4/ best pirate was Clos L’Eglise 2009 (97). List of wines per score included in the tasting story.
  
  Tasting note:
  Dense and concentrated bursting with sweet and sexy red berry fruit, blue berries, a bit of coffee, mocha, chocolate, mineral notes, earth and leather. On the palate fireworks from attack to finish, bold yet elegant, fresh and in perfect harmony. One of the highlights in the tasting and only bested by Le Pin of the same vintage!

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• 2009 Château Le Pin 99 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol

  Sexy, multi-dimensional with layer after layer, sweet accents, tobacco and cigar box, dried herbs, seasoning, espresso and roasted coffee beans all adding to a well-defined bouquet of mixed berries. Fresh palate with great acidity and an intricate structure. Tannins were still quite mouth coating and overall not yet ready and best cellared for quite a few more years. But in spite of this, the Le Pin 2009 is already flirting hard with perfection and there is definitely a 100 points potential here, only a question of time. This was the winner of the tasting, ahead of Le Pétrus 2009 and Le Pin 2010. Luckily a completely different experience than I had 3 years ago during a vintage horizontal.

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• 2009 Clos l'Église (Pomerol) 97 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol

  6 vintage face-off (2006-2011) Pétrus vs Lafleur vs Le Pin vs alternating Pomerol pirate. The wines were served in vintage flights of 4 and not decanted. Main observations were: 1/ Le Pin knocked it out of the park coming in first in 4 out of 6 vintages while Pétrus came in last with not a single vintage win (Lafleur came in best in two off-vintages, 2006 and 2008), 2/ The best overall vintage was 2009 (runner-up 2010) while 2006 came in last (scoring range 85-92), 3/ best bottle was Le Pin 2009 (99), followed by Pétrus 2010 and Le Pin 2010 (98 each), 4/ best pirate was Clos L’Eglise 2009 (97). List of wines per score included in the tasting story.
  
  Tasting note:
  Tobacco, cigar box and a bit of roasted coffee beans complement an array of pure mixed berry fruits. The nose is hitting bulls eye! But quite tannic on the palate and not entirely integrated yet.

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• 2009 Château Lafleur 92 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol

  6 vintage face-off (2006-2011) Pétrus vs Lafleur vs Le Pin vs alternating Pomerol pirate. The wines were served in vintage flights of 4 and not decanted. Main observations were: 1/ Le Pin knocked it out of the park coming in first in 4 out of 6 vintages while Pétrus came in last with not a single vintage win (Lafleur came in best in two off-vintages, 2006 and 2008), 2/ The best overall vintage was 2009 (runner-up 2010) while 2006 came in last (scoring range 85-92), 3/ best bottle was Le Pin 2009 (99), followed by Pétrus 2010 and Le Pin 2010 (98 each), 4/ best pirate was Clos L’Eglise 2009 (97). List of wines per score included in the tasting story.
  
  Tasting note:
  This had a hard stance against the others in this vintage and came across too extracted, although the seemingly overripe fruit was mitigated by a nice floral layer and some mineral notes. Palate still pretty wild and somewhat all over the place.

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