Farr Vintners Logo

L'If 2020

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) and was formerly 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. Winemaking by Nicolas Thienpont's son Cyrille. 7,000 bottle production.

View all vintages of this wine | View all wines by Château l'If

Label

Tasting Notes

This is one of the most structured L’Ifs I have had with currants and cherries, and chalk and salt undertones. Full and muscular. Long, long finish. The tannins and fruit go on and on. Give it three or four years to soften.

98
James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, May 2023

A blend of 79% Merlot and 21% Cabernet Franc, L’If 2020 is deep garnet-purple in color. It skips out of the glass with vibrant notes of Morello cherries, juicy blackberries, and fresh plums, with touches of menthol, pencil shavings, and iron ore. The medium to full-bodied palate vibrates with energetic black fruits, supported by firm, grainy tannins and oodles of freshness, finishing on a lingering chalky note.

96
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, The Wine Independent, March 2023

Bursting with aromas of sweet blackberries, cherries, licorice and spices, the 2020 L'If is medium to full-bodied, bright and youthfully structured, with a pretty core of fruit, chalky tannins and a mouthwatering finish. In recent years, this property has begun to find an identity of its own, the bulk of whose holdings lie next to Troplong-Mondot, a property the Thienpont family owned for a decade in the 20th century. 2025 - 2040

93
William Kelley, Wine Advocate, April 2023

Austere on the opening beats, then a ton of enjoyable berry fruits. As it settles in, it delivers fine tannins with intense and sappy hawthorn, crushed stone and tobacco leaf character backing them up. Great balance, some austerity, and a tiptoeing through the palate that speaks of its clay-limestone soils. Fiona and Jacques Thienpont are the owners here, with winemaking from their nephew Cyrille Thienpont. 50% new oak. A yield of 34hl/ha.

Drinking Window 2025 - 2042

92
Jane Anson, Decanter.com, May 2021

84% Merlot, 16% Cabernet Franc. Cask sample.
Rich and ripe with damson and dark-fruit notes. Full and broad across the palate but backed and driven by very fine tannins. Texturally smooth, the chalky freshness and point of acidity on the finish pulling it all together. (JL) 14.6%
Drink 2026 – 2035

17
James Lawther MW, JancisRobinson.com, April 2021
Read more tasting notes...

This is all in finesse and focus with a compact palate of ultra fine tannins that are like the finest silk. It’s full-bodied and grows on the palate with a crescendo of focused fruit and fine, chewy tannins. The tannins grow and persist.

98/99
James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, May 2021
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.