Château Prieuré-Lichine 2020

Special Price $39.85 Average US Price $55.00
In Stock   Usually ships in 2-5 days, weather permitting
SKU
4683-2020
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Other Vintages We Offer:

• Domaine: Château Prieure-Lichine
• Appellation: Margaux
• Classification: Fourth Growth, 4ème Grand Cru Classé
• Origin: Left Bank, Bordeaux, France

Château Prieure-Lichine is an estate that exemplifies classic Margaux terroir.  The wines have a certain finesse, generosity, suppleness, and charm.  What makes Château Prieure-Lichine a unique property is not just the quality of the grand vin, however.  The simple fact of the matter is Château Prieure-Lichine was a groundbreaking estate that turned Bordeaux from a relatively sleepy, winemaking collective into a tourist destination.  This was largely because of the legendary figure in the world of Bordeaux wine, the Russian American wine critic nicknamed the “Pope of Wine,” Alexis Lichine.  It would be impossible to talk about the history of this property without mentioning his name.  In many ways, Château Prieure-Lichine is an important estate to know – not just for the sake and quality of its wines -- but because it is a property that radically changed the way things were done in Bordeaux. 
 

The history behind Château Prieure-Lichine is a long one, as the property was initially a priory for Benedictine Monks.  The Monks lived at the estate and produced wines for dinners and a variety of religious services.  The wines were of such great quality that they were lauded by Pope Clement.  It was ranked in 1745 by the Bordeaux Intendance Classification as a Third Growth prior to being seized and split up during the French Revolution. Almost a hundred years later at the 1855 Classification, the estate was declared by the négociants a Fourth Growth property.  Château Prieure-Lichine fell into disrepair until the 1950s, dwindling in size to a diminutive 11 hectares.  The rumor is it was purchased by Alexis Lichine for a minuscule sum of 8,000 British pounds.  The property was renamed Château Prieure-Lichine and that’s where the history of the estate gets very interesting.
 
Alexis Lichine, ever the visionary, wanted to make Château Prieure-Lichine a destination, yet when he purchased the property Bordeaux wasn’t exactly a place where tourists went.  He purchased a large sign that said the estate was open for tastings and visitors could purchase wine there.  The sign was placed along the D2 Route de Médoc, much to the chagrin of the neighboring Bordeaux estates who considered Alexis’ approach  “too commercial,” for their tastes.  With all that in mind, the naysayers began to get on board when they started seeing more and more wine lovers purchasing the grand vin of Château Prieure-Lichine.  By the 1970s, Château Prieure-Lichine was able to expand to 58 hectares of vines.  There are actually plantings of vines from Prieure-Lichine in every commune of Margaux.
 
Eventually, Alexis Lichine passed away in 1989 and was buried on property because of his undying love for the estate.  Château Prieure-Lichine was managed by his son, Sacha who eventually sold it for close to 20,000,000 British Pounds to the powerful négociant, the Ballande Group.  As the years pass, the team has implemented a series of strategies to improve the wines at Château Prieure-Lichine, and it’s clear they are succeeding.  For wine connoisseurs who love properties with interesting and complex histories, Château Prieure-Lichine is definitely an estate worth knowing.

Tasting Notes

"The ruby/purple-hued 2020 Château Prieure-Lichine offers a medium to full-bodied, plush, layered style that carries beautiful red and blue fruits, notes of sandalwood and flowery incense, outstanding overall balance, ripe tannins, and a great finish." Jeb Dunnuck, Bordeaux 2020: En Primeur Part 1 (5/23/2021) Rating: 91-93

"Medium to deep garnet-purple in color, the 2020 Prieure-Lichine offers up notes of fresh redcurrants, blackcurrant pastilles, boysenberries and dried Provence herbs, plus wafts of tobacco leaf and pencil shavings. Medium-bodied, the palate delivers a great intensity of pure black and red fruit flavors, framed by grainy tannins and a lively backbone, finishing long with a refreshing herbal lift." Lisa Perotti-Brown, May 2021: Week 3, The Wine Advocate, Rating 91-93 Drink: 2024-2040

"The 2020 Prieuré-Lichine opens with very pretty floral and spice overtones. Pliant, silky and nuanced, the 2020 is all charm. The purity of the red/purplish berry fruit is compelling. Readers will find an understated, classy Margaux full of character. I can't wait to taste this from bottle. A bit clenched today, but that should not be an issue with time. The Prieuré-Lichine finishes with notable freshness and savory intensity." Antonio Galloni, Vinous (June, 2021) Rating: 91-94

"Plenty of juicy dripping autumnal fruit, cassis and blueberry with a crack of black pepper and a good lick of saline freshness on the finish that makes you want to take another sip. One of the clear successes, intense and concentrated with balanced tannins and acidity, if some bitter almond overtones. A yield of 32hl/ha. 40% new oak. Harvested right through to October 1st.Tasted twice." Jane Anson, Best Margaux 2020 Wines Tasted En Primeur (04/30/2021) Rating: 93


More Information
Stock Status In Stock
Appellation Margaux
Vintage 2020
Brand Chateau Prieure-Lichine
Shipping Weight 3.000000

 

Margaux is well known for its prime location in the Haut-Médoc subregion on the Left Bank along the Gironde estuary, which provides a temperate maritime climate and ideal conditions for grape cultivation. The cultivation of vines and wine production in Margaux can be traced back to Roman times. However, during the Middle Ages, the wine industry in Bordeaux began to take shape, and centuries later, Margaux continued to build its reputation as a premier wine appellation throughout the 20th century. 

Margaux is known for its diverse and complex terroir, with gravelly, sandy, and clay-rich soils. The gravelly soils provide excellent drainage and heat retention, particularly favorable for the ripening of Cabernet Sauvignon grapes, the primary grape variety grown in Margaux.

Margaux is celebrated for producing elegant and refined red wines. These wines are often described as having a delicate and perfumed character, with aromas of blackcurrant, violets, and other red and black fruits. They are known for their balance, finesse, and exceptional aging potential.

The appellation gained international recognition for producing some of the world's finest wines. Its namesake champion, Château Margaux, was named in 1855 as one of the original First Growths (Premiers Crus). In addition, Margaux is home to these classified estates: Château Palmer, Château Rauzan-Ségla, Château Rauzan-Gassies, Château Durfort-Vivens, Château Lascombes, Château Brane-CantenacChâteau Giscours, Château Kirwan, Château d'Issan, Château Malescot St.-Exupery, Château Cantenac Brown, Château Desmirail, Château Ferriere, Château Marquis d'Alesme, Château Boyd-Cantenac, Château Prieuré-Lichine, Château Marquis de Terme, Château Dauzac.

Footnotes on Futures, Pre-Arrivals, and potential US Tariffs: 

1. As of June 15, 2021, the US and the EU agreed to suspend tariffs resulting from the Boeing-Airbus aircraft trade disputes. Accordingly, such import taxes are now suspended for the next five years.

2. Futures are expected to be available for delivery two years after the sales (e.g., the 2022 vintage, sold in 2023, will be delivered in 2025 mostly, or 2026 if the producer ages the wine longer).

3. Pre-Arrivals are items currently stored in our Bordeaux cellar or in transit from France to the US. It usually takes 1-6 months for Pre-Arrivals to become available for delivery, depending on the stage of the import process.

4. Regarding futures and pre-arrivals, we cannot guarantee specific delivery dates, which factors beyond our control may impact. However, we will notify you once your wine arrives in our cellar.

5. While a buyer of Bordeaux wine futures locks in an allocation of the specified items, the final delivery of the purchased items from France to the US may be impacted by intervening and unforeseeable events. Despite our due diligence, additional costs or delays may be caused by such intervening and unforeseen events and "an irresistible, superhuman cause, or by the act of public enemies of the state of California or the United States."  In such circumstances, if a buyer does not accept unforeseeable costs or delays, the sole and exclusive remedy is a cancellation of the futures order concerned and a refund of the original purchase price. We are NOT liable for any lost profits on a canceled order.

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