Château L’Evangile 2023

Saskia de Rothschild is the intuitive and sharp manager of the incomparable Pomerol estate, Château L’Évangile and the First Growth Château Lafite Rothschild.  She describes Château L’Évangile as  “… a house in Bordeaux situated on the famed plateau of Pomerol.  It is at the heart of this natural laboratory that the earth and the heavens bring new lessons for each vintage.” The grand vin of Château L’Evangile is considered one of the finest offerings of this Right Bank appellation, held in esteem after some top tier estates like Château Vieux Château Certan and Château Pétrus.  The wine is remarkably consistent, and fabulous vintages occurred even after the devastating frosts in 1956. 
 
Château L’Évangile was one of the first vineyards to be planted in Pomerol.  It was founded by the Léglise family from Libourne in 1741.  The property’s name at the time was Domaine de Fazilleau.  Right around the turn of the 19th Century, the property was purchased by a lawyer who named the estate L’Évangile. Eventually Château L’Évangile would be acquired by the prestigious Ducasse family, who were the owners of the estate until 1990.  That year, 70 percent of the stake was sold to Lafite Rothschild.  Funnily enough, the Rothschilds wanted to make some changes at the estate – like adding new oak barrels.  Madame Ducasse, the owner of the remaining 30 percent of shares, was reluctant to this decision as new oak barrels are very expensive.  She turned a blind eye, however, when the Rothschilds began sneaking new oak barrels into the barrel room late at night without presenting her with the bill.  Eventually in 2004, Domaine Barons de Rothschild paid for an extensive renovation of the cellars which finished just before the legendary 2005 vintage.
 
Château L’Évangile has some incredible terroir.  A mosaic of only the best soils grace the vineyards of this special place.  The property is next door to esteemed estates like Château La Conseillante, Château Pétrus, and Château Cheval Blanc.  A tiny dirt road is the only barrier separating Château L’Évangile from the Right Bank region of Saint-Émilion.  In terms of soil, this 22 hectare property has a mixture of sandy clay soil with gravel and a small portion of the rare and special blue clay that is so famously associated with Château Pétrus.  The vineyard is managed by Oliver Trégoat, the technical director of Château Rieussec.  Interestingly enough, the Rothschilds began planting some Cabernet Sauvignon vines in the more graveled portions of the vineyard.  They first incorporated Cabernet Sauvignon in the 2019 vintage.  Everything is harvested by hand and the mixture of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Cabernet Sauvignon vines are fermented based on their original plots in cement vats.  After this happens, the grand vin is aged in 70 percent new French oak for 18 months.  The resulting wine is a simply stunning expression of Pomerol that needs a bit of time for its potential to unfold.  The wine is opulent, and since the 2000s, quality has been at a higher standard than ever before.    

Tasting Notes

"A fascinating exercise in terroir, as this shows the same alcohol as the Blason, but the density, fruit character and even the IPT (tannin) count are very different. You see the impact of clay soils in the building of the powerful architecture and the plush damson and black cherry fruits. There is density but tenderness to the tannins, with grilled caramel that gives a beautiful Pomerol signature. Violet floral edging arrives towards the finish, as things open up, and this is an impressive L'Evangile that can age with ease. 42hl/h yield, a record in recent years here. Certified organic since 2021. Great stuff from technical director Juliette Couderc." - Jane Anson, (05/06/2024), Ratings: 96

"The 2023 L’Évangile is sensual and plush in the glass. Silky, refined tannins wrap around a core of dark-toned fruit, spice, mocha, leather and dried flowers. This opens nicely, leading to an explosive, deep finish that is quite compelling. Élevage is 50% new oak, 27% once-used barrels, 15% 26hL cask and 8% amphora. It's another fine effort from the team led by Technical Director Juliette Couderc." - Antonio Galloni, Vinous, (04/30/2024), Ratings: 94-96

"The 2023 L'Évangile was picked from September 4 to 28 at 42hL/ha, which is the highest for many years. Matured in 50% new oak (including 15 foudres) and 8% in amphoras (my sample only from used barrels), this has a very floral and precise bouquet with dark red fruit, blueberry, hints of blood orange and light sous-bois scents. It's very L'Evangile. The palate is medium-bodied with filigree tannins. Crisp and precise, there’s fine tension toward the finish with a lingering black pepper note. This is a lovely L'Évangile that deserves five or six years in bottle. It will be worth the wait." - Neal Martin, Vinous, (04/29/2024), Ratings: 94-96

"A blend of 78% Merlot, 21% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2023 L’Evangile has a pH of 3.7. It is deep garnet-purple in color and on the nose oaky overtones soon give way to a core of baked plums, stewed black cherries, and mulberries, leading to suggestions of dried herbs, mossy tree bark, and pencil lead. The medium-bodied palate is lightly chewy, with soft acidity and savory accents to the black berry flavors, finishing with an herbal lift. The alcohol is 13.5%." - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, The Wine Independent, Ratings: 93-95

''Wafting from the glass with deep aromas of dark berries, spices, licorice and petals, framed by a sweet patina of new oak, the 2023 L'Evangile is medium to full-bodied, deep and layered, with a textural attack that segues into a supple, integrated core that's framed by sweet, powdery tannins. It's a blend of 78% Merlot, 21% Cabernet Franc and 1% Cabernet Sauvignon, checking in at 13.5% alcohol, that was harvested between September 4 and 28.'' - William Kelley, The Wine Advocate, (04/26/2024), Ratings: 93-95