Farr Vintners Logo

L'If 2022

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. Plantings are 91% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc. Winemaking by Nicolas Thienpont's son Cyrille.

All 8 hectares here are now in production so production is now 10,000 bottles. 80% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc. 14.3% alcohol. 50% new oak, 50% second year oak. Harvested 14th to 26th September

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

Label

Tasting Notes

Aromas of raspberries, cherries, spices and bay leaf introduce the 2022 L'If, a medium to full-bodied, layered and fleshy wine that's taut and vibrant, built around lively acids and fine, chalky tannins. A blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc, the decision to halve the volume of pump-overs have delivered a suave Saint-Émilion, even in this structured vintage.

93/95
William Kelley, Wine Advocate (266), April 2023

The 2022 L'If, a blend of 20% Cabernet Franc from fourth-leaf vines and 80% Merlot, was picked on 14 and 26 September at 35hL/ha. The limestone soils percolate through nicely on the nose with mineral-rich blackberry and bilberry fruit, quite estuarine (even if it doesn't border the Gironde!) The palate is medium-bodied with crunchy black fruit and blueberry notes. It's finely structured with a touch of licorice popping up on the finish, overtly spicy on the aftertaste. This is a very well-crafted Saint-Émilion from Jacques Thienpont and team - no wonder it is gaining a loyal following like Le Pin. 2030-2055

93/95
Neal Martin, vinous.com, May 2023

Brigh blueish purple in colour with a supple, generous nose of fleshy red and black currants. High polish brings succulent, fine tannins propping up fleshy forest fruit. There is a hint of spice and pencil shavings on the back end, bringing balance to this rounded, plush wine.

93/95
Thomas Parker MW, Farr Vintners, April 2023

Gorgeous and very fine tannins with a fine velvet texture and wonderful berry, chocolate and hazelnut character. Medium-bodied with round and balanced tannins with serenity and a crunchy finish. 80% merlot and 20% cabernet franc.

98/99
James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, April 2023

The 2022 L'If, 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc, is deep garnet-purple in color. It swans out of the glass with gregarious notions of juicy raspberries, plum preserves, and fresh blackberries, followed by hints of roses, star anise, and smoked meats. The medium to full-bodied palate is charged with energy, delivering a firm fine-grained backbone of tannins and lovely tension, finishing long and fragrant. pH 3.52.

93/95+
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, The Wine Independent, May 2023

Deep plum colour with violet reflections, and this is full of limestone intensity and grip, with fragrant floral aromatics. Bitter edge of black chocolate, fennel and aniseed, cassis fruits, real purity of character. Cyril Thienpont winemaker. Owned by the Thienponts since 2010. Harvest September 14 to 26. 50% new oak. 35hl/h yield. 3.52ph. New barrel cellar from 2023 vintage, 4,000l Stockinger barrels. 50% new oak.

93
Jane Anson, JaneAnson.com, May 2023



The Thienponts of Le Pin’s newish acquisition next to Troplong Mondot on clay limestone. After careful soil mapping, half of the estate was replanted with, for example, Cabernet Franc on the limestone. Since 2021 all of the estate is now producing. So there is currently a high proportion of young vines, but apparently they withstood 2022 drought well. What didn’t go into the grand vin goes into Collines de l’If. Cyril Thienpont, son of Nicolas, is in charge. 80% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc. 50% new barrels.
Fragrant and sappy. Fresh and lively. Rich and racy. Clean and lightly sandy tannins on the end. Not the longest but very nice and surely the best vintage yet of this wine. Lots of lifted, limestone minerality. 14.3%
Drink 2027– 2037

16.5
Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, May 2023
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.