Description

Chateau l’Evangile is one of the oldest estates in Pomerol. Not much has changed except for the addition of a large plot in 2012. And it is now owned by the Lafite empire. Their 22 ha is on the border of St-Emilion and makes them close to Cheval Blanc. On the Pomerol side they are neighbours to La Conseillante and very near Vieux Chateau Certan and Petrus. The vineyard is split with 80% Merlot and the balance Cabernet Franc. The modern style is of power and opulence. They are wines made to age.

“A successful wine for a Right Bank Pomerol, this is an elegant but strongly constituted, medium-bodied L’Evangile with a deep ruby/purple-tinged color, sweet blackberry, raspberry notes, with a distinctive earthiness, medium body, surprising potency (13.8% alcohol) and a long finish with sweet tannin. The blend in 2002, according to Jean Pascal Vazart, was 78% Merlot and 22% Cabernet Franc. The tannins are sweeter than I would have thought, so I suspect this wine will drink well early, but have good keeping qualities. Anticipated maturity: 2007-2017.” Robert Parker  4/2005.

Pomerol 

Merlot dominates here ably supported by Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon a distant (and sometimes non-existant) third. There is only 800 hectare of vines and almost 150 producers and Pomerol is the only major appellation of Bordeaux to eschew a ranking system.  The quality at the top level are arguably better than any other Bordeaux but it can vary.

Merlot 

It gets a tough time most of the places it is grown. But in Pomerol and Saint-Emilion Merlot not only dominates but makes some of the best wines in the world. Perfume, silky and plush. Cabernets Franc and Sauvignon season the wines with structure and acid but in some places, like Petrus they are almost not needed.

Cabernet Franc

Is actually one of the parents of Cabernet Sauvignon… along with Sauvignon Blanc (oh! The name makes sense now!).  It is most famous for being the third most important grape in quality Bordeaux but also excels in the Loire Valley (where it lived before it went to Bordeaux), especially Chinon and Saumur. The wines are bright red in colour, highly aromatic with raspberries, rose petals, violets along with tobacco, cassis and some herbal elements. The best examples can live as long as any great wine.

2002

The weather conditions were not great but late season sun saved the harvest. Good producer managed to make good wines. The conditions favoured the Left Bank and Cabernet Sauvignon.