L'If 2018
• Domaine: L'IF
• Appellation: Saint-Emilion
• Classification: Grand Cru
• Origin: Right Bank, Bordeaux, France
L’if is yet another cult wine produced by Jaques Thienpont. If the name rings a bell, that’s because it is associated with one of the most sought-after wines on the Right Bank – Le Pin. The Thienponts have a profound respect for nature, especially trees, and have fittingly named all their properties after them. Le Pin was named after the single, solitary pine tree growing in a place of prominence on the Pomerol property. Their Castillon property L’Hêtre was named after the beech tree, and the small Saint-Émilion estate L’if takes its name from the Yew tree. Yew trees are symbolically associated with regeneration. It is the perfect symbol associated with the life-cycle of the vine – always changing, always growing, and getting stronger with age.
L’if is a fairly young estate and is still a considered by the Thienpont family to be a “work in progress.” Given the high scores, it is clear the Thienponts are an exceptionally humble sort. The estate was purchased in 2010 by Jaques Thienpont, who gave it the name L’if. Like many of the Thienpont properties, L’if was a small plot situated on the Saint-Émilion plateau called Château Le Haut-Plantey. It was just .5 hectares of vines. Since then, the Thienponts have expanded the holdings of this estate steadily over time to 8 hectares. The Thienponts are a powerful family in the Right Bank. It is no small feat that the three properties they run – Le Pin, L’Hêtre and L’if have all achieved cult status, with Le Pin retailing for several thousands of dollars a bottle. Fortunately, L’if and L’Hêtre both share a more accessible price tag, allowing oenophiles to discover the impressive winemaking skills of the Thienponts. The estate is presently managed by Cyrille Thienpont – Jacques Thienpont’s cousin.
The property is planted with 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc. These vines thrive in the nutrient dense chalky limestone and clay soils. The property has some excellent neighbors, like the estates Troplong Mondot and La Mondotte. When the estate was purchased in 2010, an extensive soil study was done to see which varietals and cover crops thrived in certain plots. Cabernet Sauvignon was initially planted there, but the majority of it was removed because the soil was more compatible with Cabernet Franc. The Thienponts are hoping to add more Cabernet Franc vines to the property in the future and steadily ramp up production at the estate. The wine is vinified in stainless steel, and the wines are aged in 50% new French oak barrels.
L’if is an incredibly beguiling and stylish Saint-Émilion, with tremendous ageing potential. During good vintages, the wine can age for 10 – 15 years. Production at L’if is small, at under 1,000 cases per year, making this wine hard to find and cementing its cult status. As the Thienponts continue to plant this fledgling vineyard, production will increase with time. Till then, this gem of a wine is well worth the purchase – especially for those who appreciate the know-how of the Thienpont family.
Tasting Notes
"The 2018 L'If is an exceptionally beautiful Saint-Émilion. Fragrant and light on its feet, the 2018 is all finesse. A rush of rose petal, lavender, mint, spice and blue/purplish berry fruit infuse this striking, mid-weight Saint-Émilion. This is one of the more polished, understated wines of the vintage. Silky tannins add to the wine's air of sophistication. I tasted the 2018 from six separate lots and then the final blend (two times), which once again shows how important blending is as the final wine is truly greater than the sum of its parts. Cyrille Thienpont told me the grapes did not have a lot of juice at crush, so he opted for gentler winemaking and fewer pumpovers during a cuvaison that lasted 25-28 days. The blend is 74% Merlot and 26% Cabernet Franc, a big increase over 2016, where the Franc was 9%." - Antonio Galloni, vinous.com, (April, 2019), Ratings: 95-98
"The 2018 L'If is blended of 74% Merlot and 26% Cabernet Franc, to be aged 12-16 months in barriques, 50% new. The wine has a pH of 3.55 and 14.5% alcohol. Deep purple-black in color, it gives up a beautiful perfume of baked raspberries, mulberries and Black Forest cake with hints of fragrant soil, rose hip tea and dusty soil. Full-bodied, rich and jam-packed with generous red and black fruits framed by velvety tannins, it has wonderful savory chocolate and licorice accents and a long, spicy finish." - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (4/23/2019, Bordeaux 2018 Issue), Rating: 93-95
LWIN | 1191992 |
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Stock Status | Out of Stock |
Appellation | Saint-Emilion |
Vintage | 2018 |
Brand | L'If |
Shipping Weight | 3.000000 |