|
A 47-ACRE VINEYARD, SOLELY OWNED BY HUBERT DE BOUARD, ONE OF THE PROPRIETORS OF ANGELUS IN ST.EMILION, THIS IS HIS FULL-THROTTLE EFFORT AT MAKING THE FINIEST WINE OF LALANDE DE POMEROL, AT WHICH HE HAS ADMIRABLY SUCCEEDED BASED ON THE PAST FEW VINATGES. THE ESTATE, WHICH IS PLANTED 80% MERLOT, 15% CABERBET FRANC, AND 5% CABERNET SAUVIGNONM IS GIVEN STATE-OF-THE-ART VINEYARD MANAGEMENT, FROM CROP THINNING, LEAF PULLING, AND HAND HARVESTING IN SMALL PLASTIC BINS TO ALL OF THE PROGRESSICE STEPS IN VINIFICATION THAT ARE EMPLOYED IN BORDEAUX, FROM 7-DAY PRE-FERMENTATION COL MACERATION, MALOLACTIC IN NEW FRENCH OAK, AGING ON ITS LEES WITH MICRO-OXYGENATION, AND BOTTLING WITH NO FILTRATION. THE PRODUCTION OF LA FLEUR DE BOUARD IS AROUND 5,000 CASESAND THE LIMITED PRODUCTION, SUPER-DUPER, TRUELY REMARKABLE LA PLUS, A MERE 420 CASES. IN SHORT, READERS WILL FIND NO BETTER WINE THAN THIS IN LALANDE DE POMEROL, AND THOSE WHO CAN'T AFFORD THE ANGELUS FORM ST.-EMILION WILL GET A TASTE OF THE BOUARD STYLE WITH THESE EFFORTS. 2001 LE PLUS: ONE OF THE BEST WINES OF THE VINTAGE, THE INKY PURPLE-COLORED 2001 LE PLUS BOASTS SUPER BLACKBERRY, CREME DE CASSIS FLAVORS INTERMIXED WITH LICORICE, SMOKE, AND GRAPHITE. THE WINE IS FULL-BODIED, WITH TREMENDOUS CONCENTRATION AND A REMARKABLE FINISH THAT GOES ON FOR NEARLY A MINUTE. ANTICIPATED MATURITY: 2005-2016. |
