| 96-100 |
Robert Parker (Wine Advocate) |
The prodigious 2009 l'Evangile may be the greatest wine made at this estate during my 30+ years of tasting Bordeaux. Yields were 39 hectoliters per hectare, and the harvest was relatively long, with everything being picked at perfect maturity between September 11 and October 7. The estate is doing malolactic in barrel (a la Burgundy), and the final blend (95% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc) achieved 14.5% natural alcohol. Amazingly, this cuvee is aged in 100% new oak barrels, yet no oak is present in the aromas or flavors. Readers should think of it as a better, richer, fuller, more alcoholic version of the 1982 l'Evangile. Dense, full-bodied, and opaque purple-hued, it boasts an extraordinary bouquet of spring flowers, blueberries, blackberries, and boysenberries. A blue and black mountain fruit character suggests coolness, but an intensity and voluptuous texture present the paradox of 2009. The wine has all the characteristics of a hot vintage in terms of power, texture, and richness as well as elements of a cool vintage in its precision, elegance, freshness, and vibrancy. Make no mistake about it, this is an enormous wine that is incredible to taste. Frankly, I could have drunk the entire barrel sample if it hadn't been my first appointment of the day (at 8:15 a.m.)! This wine should drink well for 30-40 years. Bravo! (Tasted once.) Drink 2010-2050.Robert Parker added an asterisk to this wine score to signify that it is a wine he considers has the finest potential of all the offerings he has ever tasted from this estate in nearly 32 years of barrel tasting samples in Bordeaux. |
| 91-93 |
Neal Martin (Wine Advocate) |
Picked between 11th September until 7th October but with only six days of picking. Much of the Cabernet Franc was replanted in 2006 and 2007, so it represents just 5% of the blend. Delivering 14.6% alcohol and a pH of 3.73, the L'Evangile is very tight but delineated on the conservative nose. Blackberry, briary, a touch of cedar and sandalwood, the palate is full-bodied with silky smooth tannins on the entry. Great depth here, a voluminous L'Evangile, well-defined and very minerally and yet I can feel the presence of that alcohol on the heavy back palate. Hopefully it will settle down on the finish by the time of bottling. Let's see how this evolves by the time of bottling...I would like to see it engender more finesse. Tasted April 2010. |
| 96-99 |
James Suckling (Wine Spectator) |
I love the aromas of black olive and blueberry, with mineral and light mint. Full-bodied, with supervelvety tannins. Superlong. This is dense and very beautiful, with such a great core of fruit. Silky texture. Not sure it is going to be better than 2005 (100 pointer!) but super. |
| 18/20 |
Jancis Robinson |
39 hl/ha. 95% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc. Just a bit deeper than the Blason. Silky and subtle on the nose. Great richness and intensity. Firm line through it. Really up there. Great structure. Very firm and dry on the finish but not drying, Much more than just ripeness. Great density. Exotic and racy. Very long. Date tasted 29th March 2010. Drink 2018-2035. |
