2012 Château L'If
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Tasting notes
The 2012 L'If has a finely-tuned, simple but focused bouquet with red cherries, raspberry coulis, marmalade and light minty aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with slightly coarse tannins on the entry, not deep or powerful, and there is some attenuation towards the bitter finish. I would broach this over the next three or four years. Tasted blind at the Southwold Ten-Year On tasting.
Critic scores
Neal Martin, Wine Advocate
James Suckling
More reviews and scores
Tasted blind. Low-key nose. This seems distinctly dull. Where’s the flavour? The a cidity is currently trumping the fruit. (JR)
The 2012 l'If is the first vintage for the team of Jacques Thienpont and Fiona Morrison. Based largely on Merlot, with roughly 10% Cabernet Franc, this beautiful 2012 is still reserved and tight, with a straight, focused, yet concentrated style. Giving up terrific notes of pure creme de cassis, smoky oak, graphite, and hints of tobacco, this incredibly pure, seamless effort needs another 4-5 years to hit maturity and should keep for another 15+.
Tasted blind at the Southwold Bordeaux tasting. The 2012 Château L'If from Jacques Thienpont and Fiona Morrison has a broody, introspective bouquet that needs encouragement from the glass. Although it is tightly coiled, it feels well defined and the oak is nicely embedded into the fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with grippy dark plum and blackberry fruit laced with graphite and tobacco. Masculine compared to its peers, this is another wine that will require long-term ageing. There is a lot to admire considering that the couple had only recently taken over the running of the property. Tasted January 2016.