Chateau L'Evangile, Pomerol 2009

An astonishing effort from the Rothschild family, the 2009 l’Evangile may be the reference point offering from this estate for decades to come. A blend of 95% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc aged in 100% new oak, with 15% natural alcohol, it exhibits a sumptuous bouquet of caramels, black raspberry liqueur, blackberries, violets, graphite and truffles. Thick, viscous flavors are reminiscent of such super-ripe vintages as 1982, 1959, 1949 and 1947. The striking aromatics, massive, full-bodied mouthfeel and multilayered palate that resembles a skyscraper in the mouth offer an abject lesson in great winemaking, extraordinary terroir, and the ability to combine power with precision, elegance and freshness. This is unquestionably a huge wine, but it also possesses mindboggling complexity and finesse. Because of its sheer extract and velvety personality, it will be drinkable in 4-5 years, and will keep for four decades or more where well-stored. The most profound L’Evangile ever made?

A wine that impresses you, with its subtlety and strength. Every molecule of the tannins and fruit seems to be almost perfectly in line. Enticing dark fruits and milk chocolate. The delicate, yet intense flavors go on for minutes. My palate is so caressed. Such class here. Might end up being better than the perfect 2005. Try after 2020.

Smoky, grilled black cherry, enticing and confident, with ripened blackberry and raspberry fruits, pomegranate, cherry pit, white peach, sage and fennel, wrapped up in waves of smoked earth and cocoa bean. An exuberant vintage of L'Evangile, deceptively open, but will continue to age.

Deep inky-ruby. A fresh violet topnote lifts and complicates aromas of dark plum and cassis on the enticing nose. Quite pure in the mouth, with mineral-driven flavors of dark berries, creamy milk chocolate and smoky plum. Lively framing acidity extends the wine's flavors impressively through a long finish. This has lost some baby fat but picked up more gracefulness since I tried it in the spring of 2010.

(95% merlot with 5% cabernet franc; cropped at 39 hectoliters per hectare; 14.5% alcohol, pH 3.72; 80 IPT Deep purple-ruby. Intense aromas of smoky black plum, blackberry liqueur, violets and coffee. Enters very rich and dense, showing an ultra-creamy texture to the highly concentrated flavors of blackberry jam, coffee liqueur and milk chocolate. Lively, balanced acids keep this from going over the top, and extend the flavors on the long, captivating finish. The densest, richest young L'Evangile I can remember though a touch more finesse wouldn't have hurt it any. The property of the Ducasse family since 1862, it is now part of the Barons de Rothschild (Lafite) wine empire.