2021 Evangile
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Tasting notes
The 2021 L’Evangile was the first full vintage for winemaker Juliette Couderc at the estate, and its first certified organic. An advantage at L’Evangile was the relative youth of the vines, suffering from more hydric stress with their shallow root systems, and therefore producing more concentrated fruit. The wine has great energy on the palate as well as textural complexity, starting silky and becoming more chiselled on the finish. The wine has lovely scented aromatics and the notable proportion of Cabernet Franc in the blend brings added herbal spice and cassis complexity. The wine is of moderate concentration but has a good density on the mid-palate, no doubt helped by the low yields of just 20hl/ha. Overall, there is a lovely balance to the wine and good length on a vibrant, energised finish. Blend: 69% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc, 1% Cabernet Sauvignon
Critic scores
Average Score
William Kelley, Wine Advocate
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
Tasted blind. Deep shaded crimson. Discreet nose. A real mouthful of flavour, for once! Great balance and impact. Maybe not for the long run but lots of current pleasure. (JR)
A blend of 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc (which is more Cabernet Franc than usual), the 2021 Château L'Evangile is a beautiful effort that I'd put up with the crème de la crème of the vintage. Blue fruits, cassis, violets, tobacco, and subtle chocolaty oak all define the aromatics, and it has medium to full-bodied richness, a layered, multi-dimensional mouthfeel, beautiful tannins, and just about flawless overall balance. Brought up mostly in barrel, with a splash in amphora, this beauty shines for its purity and elegance, and the higher Cabernet Franc component really shows with time in the glass.
The 2021 L’Évangile is one of the triumphs of the year, especially considering L'Évangile is now farmed biodynamically. Sharply reduced yields—20 hectoliters-per-hectare versus upper 30s for the rest of the appellation—produced a deeply sensual wine. The 2021 spent 18 months in barrel, 40% new (significantly lower than in the past), with 15% of the wine aged in terra cotta. Those are only details though. What is most encouraging about L'Évangile is how far the property has come in the last few years. Superb. The 2021 L'Évangile is a model of contemporary excellence. It marries classicism with modern approaches to farming and winemaking.
About the producer
Ch. l’Evangile is a leading Pomerol estate and the Right Bank sibling of Ch. Lafite Rothschild, part of the prestigious Domaines Barons de Rothschild group.