L'Evangile 1989

Fully mature and not likely to improve, although certainly capable of lasting another 10-15 years, the dark plum/garnet-colored 1989 L'Evangile (considerable amber exists at the edge) offers a nose of toffee, caramel, malt chocolate, sweet black cherry, and currant fruit. The wine has low acidity and plump, fleshy, forward appeal. With sweet tannin and a ripe, moderately endowed, long finish, it has nowhere near the weight, aging potential, or volume of the 1990, but it is still a top-class effort. Anticipated maturity: now-2015. Last tasted, 11/02.

The 1989 L'Evangile is one of my favorite vintages from this era, just prior to its acquisition by the Rothschild family. This bottle is superb. Red fruit, terracotta and black truffles billow from the glass. The faintest hints of aniseed emerge with time. There is a warmth about the palate that is very appealing, with melted tannins, satisfying depth and grip. Satin-textured on the finish, this Pomerol is at its peak. Tasted at the Lia's Wings Charity Dinner at Medlar, London. (Drink between 2024-2044)

While the 1990 vintage of Château l’Evangile is drinking beautifully today, the 1989 seems to still be in climbing mode, and though it too is really a lovely glass of wine at the present time, I have little doubt that it will be even better with at least a few more years’ worth of bottle age. The bouquet is pure, precise and beautifully inviting, wafting from the glass in a blend of black plums, black cherries, menthol, chocolate, tobacco leaf, a fine base of soil and a very well done framing of toasty new oak. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, complex and starting to get quite suave on the attack, with a lovely core of fruit, fine focus and grip and a long, modestly tannic and vibrant finish. While this has no real rough edges left, my gut instinct is that there is another layer of complexity still waiting to emerge and it would be rewarding to allow this layer out of its cage before really having at the bottle in earnest, despite the wine already being quite delicious today. So, give it at least a few more years of patience. (Drink between 2022-2060)

Compared directly against the Trotanoy 1989, there is a little more ripeness and volume on the nose of the L'Evangile 1989, although you have to be patient and let those aromatics to unfold. The palate is very well balanced and refined. There is a sense of harmony to this L'Evangile that surpasses both the 1982 and 1990. It glides across the mouth, harmonious and silky smooth with a ferrous finish that begs another sip. This was the finest L'Evangile from this era and it continues to offer immense pleasure. Tasted December 2013.