| Region | |
|---|---|
| Subregion | France > Bordeaux > Right Bank > St Emilion |
| Colour | Red |
| Type | Still |
This new property is owned by Jacques Thienpont (of Le Pin) and was formerly known as Haut Plantey before he purchased it in 2010. It consists of 8 hectares of which 5 are situated next to Troplong Mondot. Plantings are 91% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc. Winemaking by Nicolas Thienpont's son Cyrille. All 8 hectares here are now in production so production is now around 10,000 bottles.
The 2023 is 80% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc. 14.1% alcohol. 50% new oak, 50% second year oak.
The 2023 L'If was picked from September 18 to 27 for the Merlot. The Cabernet Franc was picked on October 2. The wine aged for 12 to 16 months in 50% new oak, the first time in the new cellar in concrete vats instead of stainless steel. It has quite an exuberant bouquet with ripe red cherry and wild strawberry fruit, a hint of blood orange and iris flower. It is very focused and beautifully defined, the limestone terroir percolating through. The palate is medium-bodied with the Cabernet Franc shaping the entry—a little peppery in style. The tannins are quite strict at the moment (which came as some surprise to the Thienponts), framing the dark berry and graphite-tinged fruit. Linear toward the finish, reflecting the slightly cooler growing season, this is a very fine, cerebral L'If.
The 2023 L'If, crafted by Cyrille Thiepont and originating from vines owned by Jacques Thienpont, unveils a dark bouquet of licorice, dark wild berries, pencil lead, coniferous forest, spices and oak. Medium to full-bodied, creamy and unctuous, it’s rich and concentrated with a fleshy core of fruit framed by powdery tannins, culminating in a long, mineral, chalky finish. This is a blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc.
A very bright, sweet nose of cherry blossom, juicy plums and cream, there is an accent of iron filings and pencil shavings to tame the most hedonistic aromas. The palate is creamy too, with silky tannins, polished fruit and bright acidity. Ultra-refined and velveteen in texture, this is a highly polished, moreish If.
What strikes you about this wine is the center-palate and the purity of cool fruit notes, such as brambleberry and orange peel. Medium body. Whole and layered with ultra-fine tannins leading to a silky texture and persistent finish.
Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2023 L'If sashays out of the glass with flamboyant notes of kirsch, juicy plums, and mulberries followed by hints of rosebud tea, underbrush, dark chocolate, and aniseed. The medium to full-bodied palate is coated with red and black berry flavors, framed by firm fine-grained tannins and fantastic tension, finishing long and fragrant. This is beautiful! The blend is 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc.
Vibrancy and luscious fruit, there is juice here but it feels sinewy, bound up in the structure and tannins, has a feeling of energy, salinity, it's mouthwatering and determined to make you smile. 50% new oak, harvest September 18 to October 2. First year with the new cellar, 40hl/h yield, no mildew issues here, 50% new oak for ageing. 3.37ph,
The 2023 L’If is unusually floral and refined for a wine that has, in the past, been darker and more ample in structure. Cedar, tobacco, crushed flowers and mint add lift and aromatic presence. Silky tannins create an impression of finesse. The 2023 represents the first year of vinification in the new cellar outfitted with cement vats. Overall, though, this wine feels like a new chapter for L'If. The vibrancy and energy here are palpable. Tasted two times. 2030-2048
80% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc. 40 hl/ha (8 ha). First vintage in the newly renovated cellars. A Jacques Thienpont (Le Pin) wine. Cask sample.
Fresh, poised and refined with floral notes to the fore. Fine texture of tannin. Decent length with some salinity on the finish. Precise. (JL) 14.1%
Drink 2028 – 2038
