Château L'Evangile
Pomerol Red Bordeaux Blend
Pomerol, Libournais, Bordeaux, France
Presented to me double-blind at Tasting Group. The wine pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core and rust colored rim; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and some signs of light sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of ripe and drying fruits: lightly stewed blackberries, black cherry, plums, tobacco, dried green herbs, old fine wood, vanilla and warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long.
Initial conclusions: this could be Tempranillo, Malbec, Merlot (or based blend), or Zinfandel-based blend from Spain, Argentina, France or the United States. However, the staining was a bit much unless there was a lot of PS in the blend so I eliminated Zinfandel. I also didn’t think this was purple enough for Malbec. This left me with Tempranillo or Merlot and I felt that this leaned more towards its structure than fruit so I was leaning Spain or France with 15-20 years of age and from a solar vintage. Ultimately, I chose Tempranillo, from Spain, Rioja, Gran Reserva from 2006…from a quality producer like C.V.N.E. Yeah, I can see Pomerol. Shoot. This is stuff and ready to drink now and will drink well through 2032+.
Presented to me double-blind at Tasting Group. The wine pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core and rust colored rim; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and some signs of light sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of ripe and drying fruits: lightly stewed blackberries, black cherry, plums, tobacco, dried green herbs, old fine wood, vanilla and warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long.
Initial conclusions: this could be Tempranillo, Malbec, Merlot (or based blend), or Zinfandel-based blend from Spain, Argentina, France or the United States. However, the staining was a bit much unless there was a lot of PS in the blend so I eliminated Zinfandel. I also didn’t think this was purple enough for Malbec. This left me with Tempranillo or Merlot and I felt that this leaned more towards its structure than fruit so I was leaning Spain or France with 15-20 years of age and from a solar vintage. Ultimately, I chose Tempranillo, from Spain, Rioja, Gran Reserva from 2006…from a quality producer like C.V.N.E. Yeah, I can see Pomerol. Shoot. This is stuff and ready to drink now and will drink well through 2032+.
It's time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday. Let's bring Merlot back!
Dark ruby in color with a wide brick rim.
Nice nose with red and black fruits, light oak, tobacco leaf, light mildew, cola and dark coffee.
Medium plus in body with medium acidity.
Dry on the palate with black currants, plums, cooked cherries, spices, oak, licorice, chocolates, tobacco, herbs, earth, vegetables, forest floor and black pepper.
Short finish with soft tannins and tangy raspberries.
This 27 year old is still drinking very nicely, although definitely not at its peak anymore. Complex and engaging.
Good right out of the bottle, and better after 2 hours of airtime.
I Had this same vintage a little while ago, and this bottle drinks much better. At this age, the condition of the specific bottle is very imperative.
Will continue to drink nicely in the next 5 to 7 years. Always nice to drink these kind of old wines.
12.5% alcohol by volume.
92 points.
$250.
It's time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday. Let's bring Merlot back!
Dark ruby in color with a wide brick rim.
Nice nose with red and black fruits, light oak, tobacco leaf, light mildew, cola and dark coffee.
Medium plus in body with medium acidity.
Dry on the palate with black currants, plums, cooked cherries, spices, oak, licorice, chocolates, tobacco, herbs, earth, vegetables, forest floor and black pepper.
Short finish with soft tannins and tangy raspberries.
This 27 year old is still drinking very nicely, although definitely not at its peak anymore. Complex and engaging.
Good right out of the bottle, and better after 2 hours of airtime.
I Had this same vintage a little while ago, and this bottle drinks much better. At this age, the condition of the specific bottle is very imperative.
Will continue to drink nicely in the next 5 to 7 years. Always nice to drink these kind of old wines.
12.5% alcohol by volume.
92 points.
$250.
It is time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday.
Dark ruby in color with a short reddish rim.
Medium plus in body with medium acidity.
Dry on the palate with nice complexity.
Showing currents, plums, cherries, oak, wet leaves, herbs, black pepper, tobacco leaf, earth, dark coffee and black tea.
Short finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.
This 26 year old Merlot is still drinking very nicely. Showing a nice mouthfeel with nice complexity.
Will continue to drink nicely in the next 5 to 7 years, but will not improve from here on.
Needs an hour to open up properly, so be patient.
This was not a good vintage in Pomerol, but it held up pretty well.
Good by itself or with food.
A blend of mostly Merlot with Cabernet Franc. Aged in French oak barrels for 18 months.
12.5% alcohol by volume.
91 points.
$250.
It is time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday.
Dark ruby in color with a short reddish rim.
Medium plus in body with medium acidity.
Dry on the palate with nice complexity.
Showing currents, plums, cherries, oak, wet leaves, herbs, black pepper, tobacco leaf, earth, dark coffee and black tea.
Short finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.
This 26 year old Merlot is still drinking very nicely. Showing a nice mouthfeel with nice complexity.
Will continue to drink nicely in the next 5 to 7 years, but will not improve from here on.
Needs an hour to open up properly, so be patient.
This was not a good vintage in Pomerol, but it held up pretty well.
Good by itself or with food.
A blend of mostly Merlot with Cabernet Franc. Aged in French oak barrels for 18 months.
12.5% alcohol by volume.
91 points.
$250.
Tasted blind. Reddish tawny color, seems younger than previous bottles in the glass. Youthful nose. Notes of black cherry, hickory, plums, gravel, black truffles, some smoke and some unsweetened dark chocolate. Silky and light on its feet despite the youthfulness of its presence. Debate ensues if this is right or left bank. We settle on a guess of 61 Cheval Blanc. While the 61 Tratanoy is all about the mouth feel, this is all about the incredible nose and its youthfulness. (M's 60th bday 8th of 14)
Tasted blind. Reddish tawny color, seems younger than previous bottles in the glass. Youthful nose. Notes of black cherry, hickory, plums, gravel, black truffles, some smoke and some unsweetened dark chocolate. Silky and light on its feet despite the youthfulness of its presence. Debate ensues if this is right or left bank. We settle on a guess of 61 Cheval Blanc. While the 61 Tratanoy is all about the mouth feel, this is all about the incredible nose and its youthfulness. (M's 60th bday 8th of 14)
May 23rd, 2021
Love 98 for Right Bank...mouth feel, silky, sweet tannins and length...blue fruits and anise...wow!
Love 98 for Right Bank...mouth feel, silky, sweet tannins and length...blue fruits and anise...wow!
Sep 14th, 2020
Aromas of Tobacco and Cedar, a little manure and unfortunately a tiny amount of wet cardboard/cork taint. The 2004 was 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc so I presume this 2003 - a very warm year - was similar. Medium weight - more savoury than fruit driven at this age. Jancis Robinson had a tasting of 2003 Bordeaux a while ago and with a few exceptions said Drink Up. L’Evangile has 34 acres and is a neighbour of Cheval Blanc. Footnote: I notice the blend from Vinous was 79/21 Merlot/Cabernet Franc for 2003.
Aromas of Tobacco and Cedar, a little manure and unfortunately a tiny amount of wet cardboard/cork taint. The 2004 was 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc so I presume this 2003 - a very warm year - was similar. Medium weight - more savoury than fruit driven at this age. Jancis Robinson had a tasting of 2003 Bordeaux a while ago and with a few exceptions said Drink Up. L’Evangile has 34 acres and is a neighbour of Cheval Blanc. Footnote: I notice the blend from Vinous was 79/21 Merlot/Cabernet Franc for 2003.
Aug 25th, 2019Last bottle from this lot was just ok this bottle was a stunner!
Last bottle from this lot was just ok this bottle was a stunner!
Aug 15th, 2019
Wow. One of the greatest Merlot’s I have EVER tasted.
Wow. One of the greatest Merlot’s I have EVER tasted.
Aug 4th, 2019
Masterclass in San Francisco with Saskia De Rothschild, Chairwoman DBR Lafite. Chateau L’ Evangile is owned by the Rothschild Family.
The nose reveals; ripe, ruby, brightly floral fruits. Blackberries, dark cherries, blueberries, black plum skin, baked strawberries with hints of pomegranate & cranberries. Steeped fruit tea, cedar, dry clay, crushed rock powder, sandy soils, graphite, dark rich soils, vanilla, touch of caramel & mocha, anise with fresh and dry dark & red florals.
The body is full. It’s mouthfeel beautiful and gorgeous already. Brightly floral, ruby fruits of; blackberries, dark cherries, blueberries, black plum skin, baked strawberries with hints of pomegranate & dry cranberries. Steeped fruit tea, dry cedar plank, dry clay, crushed rock powder, sandy soils, graphite, dark rich soils, crushed rocks, dry underbrush, volcanic minerals, vanilla, touch of caramel & mocha, anise with fresh and dry dark & red florals. The acidity is round & really nice. The structure, tension, length and balance are just hitting a good stride. The finish is well balanced fruit & earth, elegant, beautifully floral and persists for several minutes. Needs to be held 15 years from birth and will drink through 2035+. 93 now with room for more down the road.
All wines arrived weeks ago directly from the Chateau.
Photos of; the Crown Room on the 23rd floor of the Fairmont where the Masterclass was held, tasting set up, our double decanters and pourers and another view of the city of San Francisco and the Bay.
Masterclass in San Francisco with Saskia De Rothschild, Chairwoman DBR Lafite. Chateau L’ Evangile is owned by the Rothschild Family.
The nose reveals; ripe, ruby, brightly floral fruits. Blackberries, dark cherries, blueberries, black plum skin, baked strawberries with hints of pomegranate & cranberries. Steeped fruit tea, cedar, dry clay, crushed rock powder, sandy soils, graphite, dark rich soils, vanilla, touch of caramel & mocha, anise with fresh and dry dark & red florals.
The body is full. It’s mouthfeel beautiful and gorgeous already. Brightly floral, ruby fruits of; blackberries, dark cherries, blueberries, black plum skin, baked strawberries with hints of pomegranate & dry cranberries. Steeped fruit tea, dry cedar plank, dry clay, crushed rock powder, sandy soils, graphite, dark rich soils, crushed rocks, dry underbrush, volcanic minerals, vanilla, touch of caramel & mocha, anise with fresh and dry dark & red florals. The acidity is round & really nice. The structure, tension, length and balance are just hitting a good stride. The finish is well balanced fruit & earth, elegant, beautifully floral and persists for several minutes. Needs to be held 15 years from birth and will drink through 2035+. 93 now with room for more down the road.
All wines arrived weeks ago directly from the Chateau.
Photos of; the Crown Room on the 23rd floor of the Fairmont where the Masterclass was held, tasting set up, our double decanters and pourers and another view of the city of San Francisco and the Bay.