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L'If 2018

RegionBordeaux
Subregion France > Bordeaux > Right Bank > St Emilion
ColourRed
TypeStill
Grape VarietyMerlot/Cabernet Franc

This new property is owned by Jacques Thienpont (of Le Pin) that was known as Haut Plantey before he purchased it in 2010. It consists of 8 hectares of which 5 are situated next to Troplong Mondot. A total of 5.2 hectares are currently in production. Plantings are 91% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc. The 2018 is 74% Merlot, 26% Cabernet Franc and was picked from October 1st to 8th. It will be aged in 50% new oak for 12 to 16 months. Alcohol 14.5%. Winemaking by Nicolas Thienpont's son Cyrille. 7000 bottle production.

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Label

Tasting Notes

Aromas of black cherries, blueberries, licorice, dried lavender, nutmeg and grated milk chocolate. Pure raspberries, walnut husks and crushed peppercorns as well. It’s full-bodied with firm, racy tannins that go on for minutes. So sleek and polished with a long finish. Really amazing and perhaps the best wine ever from here. Same ownership as the legendary Le Pin from Pomerol. Slightly more cabernet franc (30% instead of 20%) in the blend may have made the difference. The rest is merlot. Clearly the best wine ever from here, since the official first vintage 2011. Try from 2026.

99
James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, March 2021

The 2018 L'If is blended of 74% Merlot and 26% Cabernet Franc, to be aged 12-16 months in barriques, 50% new. The wine has a pH of 3.55 and 14.5% alcohol. Deep purple-black in color, it gives up a beautiful perfume of baked raspberries, mulberries and Black Forest cake with hints of fragrant soil, rose hip tea and dusty soil. Full-bodied, rich and jam-packed with generous red and black fruits framed by velvety tannins, it has wonderful savory chocolate and licorice accents and a long, spicy finish.

93/95
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Wine Advocate (April 2019), April 2019

Tasted blind. Hint of chocolate and oak on the nose. Good concentration without too much alcohol. Savoury palate and with real interest. Very dry finish.
Drink 2027 – 2042

16.5
Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, February 2022

Black core. Very pure dark Merlot fruit on the nose – black plum and mulberry and a lovely smoky note, almost smoky bacon, to add complexity and cut through the sweetness. Juicy and fresh yet with very upright tannins. Dark, chalky and fine on the palate. Definitely more classy than last year. Purity of texture as well as fruit. Beautifully aromatic, especially in the empty glass. Beautifully fresh.
Drink 2024-2033

17
Julia Harding MW, JancisRobinson.com, April 2019

Deep ruby in the glass, this has a peppery, perfumed nose of violets and dark cherries. The palate is thick, rich and chalky, with dense and ripe fruit flooding the mid palate and taming the chalky tannins. The spices of new oak come through towards the finish, adding a spiciness to the exuberant fruit. Plump, polished and poised.

92+
Farr Vintners, Farr Tasting, April 2019
Read more tasting notes...

A delicious and tightly wound red with blackberry and blueberry aromas and flavors. Hints of cream and milk chocolate. Ultra fine tannins. It’s full-bodied, but comes across more medium, because of the compact palate and beautifully integrated tannins. This is really structured and dynamic. The close to one-third cabernet franc in the blend is charging this.

97/98
James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, April 2019
Please note that these tasting notes/scores are not intended to be exhaustive and in some cases they may not be the most recently published figures. However, we always do our best to add latest scores and reviews when these come to our attention. We advise customers who wish to purchase wines based simply on critical reviews to carry out further research into the latest reports.