Château l'Evangile 2023

Somewhat closed, complex, deep, with a mineral character, blackberry, smoke, mocha, menthol; creamy palate, round, soft, ultra-fine tannins, silky and interwoven with the fruit; exceptionally long, fresh and balanced. Will be enjoyable at every stage of its life.

Violets, lilacs, chocolate, truffle, black cherries, smoke, licorice, and plums fill the nose. But the magic of L'Evangile is on the palate with its lush, supple, creamy, elegant textures, soft, polished tannins, length, and depth, finishing with layers of ripe black plums and cherries, with peppery, spicy chocolate on the back end. The wine blends 78% Merlot with 21% Cabernet Franc and 1% Cabernet Sauvignon. 13.6% ABV, pH 3.75. The key to the vintage here is the rains that fell at the end of June, which refreshed the vines at the right moment. The harvest took place from September 4 to September 28, which is long for L'Evangile. The wine is aging in a combination of 50% new French oak, 15% amphora, and used oak barrels. The Grand Vin was made from 55% of the harvest. Drink from 2029–2050. 96–98 pts.

Dark ruby, opaque core, purple reflections. Delicately earthy nose, dark forest berries, dark cherries, tobacco nuances, candied orange zest. On the palate juicy, complex, finely meshed, subtle herbal savouriness, vivid tannins, salty finish, metallic-limestone touch in the aftertaste; classic Pomerol expression, has length and good ageing potential.

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. 42 hl/ha yield, a record in recent years here. Certified organic since 2021. Great stuff from technical director Juliette Couderc.

Score: 94–96. A shy nose, with a dark, deep register of black fruits and slate. Audrey Hepburn’s grace on the palate, with succulent black fruits that glide gently, and elegant floral notes. Immense purity in the wine, and a long, smooth, saline finish.

The nose is fruity, generous, fresh and precise, with a lovely hint of softness and a three-dimensional, multi-layered feel. It reveals notes of plump blackberry and violet, with a lighter touch of blueberry, alongside hints of juicy roasted small red berries, touches of blond tobacco, a subtle nuance of vanilla and mocha, a hint of graphite and an almost imperceptible touch of clove. The palate is fruity, balanced and refined, offering minerality and freshness, good definition and accuracy, a tangy acid backbone, indulgence, tension, an elegantly dark character, an infusion-like quality and brightness. On the palate, the wine shows notes of juicy, fleshy blackberry and vibrant, fleshy black plum, with a lighter touch of cornflower, joined by hints of camphor, graphite and toasty/caramelised notes, as well as almost bright small red berries, plus a subtle touch of toast and Bourbon vanilla. Lovely purity and a soft, generous mid-palate. Lovely energy and an elongated sensation. An almost imperceptible hint of lightly grilled aromatic herbs lingers in the background.

Fragrant redcurrant and cranberry. Milk chocolate, vanilla, creamy, fruity and fresh with cherry and plum fruit. Cool and crisp, so much freshness straight away and so sleek; the weight comes from the density of ripe fruit yet the frame stays very slick. Lovely movement and energy, softly vibrant but also quite rich—a spectrum of cranberry, blackcurrant and plum gives lots of different expressions, with liquorice and tobacco on the finish. Chalky and stony, with a lovely mineral grip too. Feels sophisticated and balanced, nothing sticks out—suave and elegant. I love its gentle expression; it doesn’t shout, but it will be a joy to drink and enjoy. I love it. Everything seems delicately balanced on a tightrope, with tenderness, density and tension. Really great and more finessed than some Pomerols. pH 3.8. Ageing: 8% amphora, 50% new oak, 15% foudre, the rest used barrels. Yield 42 hl/ha. Green harvests were carried out to drop 15–20% of the potential yield, as the team had ‘never seen so many grapes on the vines’.

93-95. Barrel Sample. Ripe tannins give this wine a structured character. Perfumed blackberry fruit comes from the 21% Cabernet Franc in the blend. It has a fine tension, balanced and juicy, solid with tannins.