CHATEAU LA FLEUR MORANGE 2002 - Ten Year Old Claret

Description & Press Reviews:
Wine Style: Full Bodied Red

This superb Claret hails from Chateau La Fleur Morange, a tiny estate in Saint-Pey-D'Armens, Saint Emilion.  Owned by Véronique and Jean-François Julien this chateau has been receiving high acclaim from wine critics across the globe including Jancis Robinson, Oz Clarke and Robert Parker. The wines have received many accolades since their discovery, not to mention a Gold at the Decanter World Wine Awards.  Just recently the chateau was promoted to Grand Cru Classe status in the new Saint Emilion Classification of 2012 - a remarkable achievement for such a small estate. 

The vineyards are rather special as they lie on unique soil: the only complex soil mixture known to exist in Saint Emilion. The little vineyard also has the added rarity of having 100 year old vines.  It's the grapes from these vines that go into the Grand Vin and the 2002 vintage comes highly recommended.

Clarets made by the Grand Cru Classe age beautifully when cellared and depending on the year of vintage they each have a drinking window.  As these Clarets are meant to be aged in bottle they are not considered ready to drink until they have reached a certain level of maturity.  Over the years the tannins in the wine become mellow, the flavours develop complexity and structure improves with greater balance.  

These Clarets tend to be in high demand and fetch higher prices than Bordeaux wines meant to be drunk young.  They may also need decanting as good Clarets often develop sediment by ten years of age or more.  However unlike decanting a young wine (which you do to let the wine breathe and develop flavour) you won't have to decant and leave a mature Claret for any length of time.  Just decant before you are ready to serve!

The 2002 is impressively structured,  sophisticated and supple.  The wine boasts a dark crimson purple colour with deep notes of raspberries, liquorice, blackberries, cassis, toasted oak, smoke and crushed stone.

It will pair well with game: venison, wild boar, pheasant, guinea fowl and partridge as well as roast beef, lamb and duck.  Due to the wine's dense complexity it enhances the fragrances and flavours of rich country casseroles, strong cheeses and even Asian cuisine.   

Robert Parker:

“This is a property I first started watching very carefully with this vintage [2000], and I have loved just about everything that has been produced.”

Testimonials from Customers:

“Many thanks for introducing me to the La Fleur Morange. I have had a number of bottles of the 2002 vintage and they have all been superb. It’s a nicely balanced wine with plenty of fruit, body and suits my palette well. If this vintage is this good I can’t wait to taste the 2005 I bought from you.”

“La Fleur Morange came as a pleasant surprise to me – I have been intrigued by the story behind this wine and won over by my purchase of the 2002 vintage. To me, it is well constructed, smooth and oozes that quality which you associate with fine Bordeaux wines.”

“I have been a lover and consumer of Bordeaux Grand Cru Classes for more years than I can remember. I come across La Fleur Morange by accident and having sampled it on several occasions, an open case of the 2002 vintage takes pride of place in my cellar amongst more familiar names of top Bordeaux Classified Growths”

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