| Region | |
|---|---|
| Subregion | France > Bordeaux > Right Bank > Pomerol |
| Colour | Red |
| Type | Still |
This château is situated in a prime position on the Pomerol plateau between Pétrus, La Conseillante and Cheval Blanc. The wines here are always smooth and seductive and are made by the team from Château Lafite. 20% of the production usually goes into a second label - Blason de l'Evangile.
The 2022 is 82% Merlot, 17.5% Cabernt Franc with a touch of Cabernet Sauvignon. With some newly planted vines in the vineyard, 50% of production this year will be 2nd label. Maturation in 50% new oak and the rest in 2nd year oak and 27 hl foudres
Given the young average age of this estate's vineyards, its well-draining soils and the extreme vintage, I was a little apprehensive; but the technical team evidently took the conditions in their stride, harvesting the east-facing side of the vines (which sees the hottest afternoon sun) four days earlier. The resulting 2022 L'Evangile is beautiful, offering up aromas of raspberries, vine smoke, black truffles, violets and gravely soil. Medium to full-bodied, supple and velvety, it's seamless and polished, with a bright core of fruit and powdery tannins that temper 2022's inherent sweetness of fruit to sophisticated effect. At this early stage, it appears that the estate's progress with regards to élevage continues too, as Evangile's creamy oak signature is much released, allowing the fruit—and this superb terroir—to take center stage. It's a blend of 82% Merlot, 17.5% Cabernet Franc and 0.5% Cabernet Sauvignon.
Bright purple colour with a spicy nose of blue fruit and raspberry jam. The palate is fleshy, polished and sweet. The generous and silky tannins have no hard edges, but the fruit has a slighlty confected tone exacerbated by toasty new oak. If these two can integrate and complement eachother, the wine can only improve in bottle, but for now this remains slightly disjointed.
A classic Evangile from a hot and great vintage with black olives, cedar and brambleberries. Medium-bodied, it has balance and refinement, a solid core of fruit and a sophisticated and polished mouthfeel. The finish is very long, increasing with precision. A graceful and age-worthy wine. Best after 2029.
The 2022 L'Evangile is composed of 82% Merlot, 17.5% Cabernet Franc, and 0.5% Cabernet Sauvignon. Deep garnet-purple in color, it needs a lot of swirling to coax out notes of juicy black plums, boysenberry preserves, and black raspberries, followed by hints of garrigue, clove oil, lilacs, and licorice. The full-bodied palate is chock full of rich, multi-layered black fruits with velvety tannins and just enough freshness, finishing long and minerally.
Beautiful depth of flavour through the palate, nuanced blackberry and damson fruits, orange peel, saffron, crayon, cassis, great quality, with flesh through the mid palate, coupled with lift on the finish, impressive. Harvest August 29 to September 14, in organic conversion, Juliette Couderc winemaker, Saskia de Rothschild owner. 28hl/h yield.
The Grand Vin 2022 Château L'Evangile is more serious and concentrated, with beautiful red and black fruits interwoven with truffly earth, tobacco, and savory, floral, spicy nuances on the nose. These carry to a medium to full-bodied, voluptuous, round, sexy L'Evangile that has soft, supple tannins, beautiful overall balance, and a mix of both richness and elegance. It's not massive and is already hard to resist, yet it should have 30 years of longevity. (Drink between 2025-2055)
82% Merlot, 17.5% Cabernet Franc, 0.5% Cabernet Sauvignon. Cask sample.
Aromatically reticent but there’s lift and a bit of freshness. Ample fruit on the palate and tannins that are smooth and long. A crunchy note adds to the persistence. Still a little wayward but élevage should help. (JL) 14.5%
Drink 2029– 2040
A seductive and sculpted wine, leaning into the vintage’s glamour and richness. The nose is deep and heady, filled with violets, dark chocolate, blackcurrants, and espresso. The palate is glossy and rich, with a juicy, shiny black fruit core, balanced by fine, slightly bloody tannins. There’s an undercurrent of freshness, with a minty lift and a touch of creaminess that enhances the plush texture. Toasted wood notes still need time to integrate, but this is smooth, seductive, and beautifully structured. A wine of depth, polish, and lasting finesse. Ageing 45% new oak, 10% foudre, 15% amphora. 3.88pH. (Drink between 2029-2050)
A classic Evangile from a hot and great vintage with black olives, cedar and brambleberries. Medium-bodied, it has balance and refinement, a solid core of fruit and a sophisticated and polished mouthfeel. The finish is very long, increasing with precision. A graceful and age-worthy wine. Best after 2029.
Fresh, wonderfully refined and gorgeously polished and long, with very fine tannins. Medium to full body. Crunchy fruit and chocolate, hazelnut and spice. Exciting to see how this tensioned beauty will evolve. Wonderful clarity.
Density combined with elegance, this has the intensity and spice of the vintage, with an emphasis on tight black fruits, a clear reflection of the phenolic concentration of the year, slow and steady tannic construction that brings in graphite. Unusually for L'Evangile this feels almost Left Bank in character, with its 28hl/h yield (compared to 33hl/h in 2020 but with almost 20% more berries this yeer, but they were such small sizes). 3.8ph 2nd year of organic certification.
