Chateau L'Evangile, Pomerol 2010

Another spectacular effort from LEvangile, the 2010 is a close rival to the 2009 and should be fascinating to compare with that vintage over the next 30 or so years. Stunningly rich and black/purple in color, the 2010 LEvangile offers up the tell-tale floral note as well as black raspberry jam intermixed with cassis and kirsch. There are also ethereal floral notes and a hint of background oak. The pH is slightly above average 3.7 versus the pH of 4.0 that the 2009 and 2000 possessed). This is a massive, rich, very impressive LEvangile, and readers should take note of the in my rating, which could certainly push this wine way up there. Remarkably, I was shocked when I learned that this wine was aged in 100% new oak, as the oak is a background element in this blockbuster lEvangile. Forget it for 3-5 years, and drink it over the following 30-40.

Reserved aromatics at first, slowly uncurling to creme de cassis, orange peel, cherry pit, cassis, incense, intense and smoky, full of character, still very young. Muscular with a ton of life ahead of it, poised and pulled together with creamy tannins and crushed rose petals on the finish.

What a nose, with orange peel, dark berries and blueberries. Full and bright , with super velvety tannins. Acidity is juicy too. Very sumptuous. Creamy tannin texture. 88 percent Merlot and 22 percent Cabernet Franc.

Deep garnet in color, the 2010 L'Evangile strides confidently out of the glass with notes of chocolate-covered cherries, vanilla pod, sweaty leather and baked plums plus hints of tobacco leaf and cinnamon stick. Full-bodied, the generously fruited palate has a lovely, plush frame with oodles of freshness and a spicy kick to the finish.

Good medium ruby. Enticing aromas of dark plum, blackcurrant, coffee liqueur and cinnamon are lifted by an intense note of violet. Sweet, lush and round, combining a fine-grained texture and terrific focus thanks to vibrant but harmonious acidity. Finishes very long and pure, with ripe but still youthfully chewy tannins. This very attractive 2010 ought to evolve gracefully for decades.

(89% merlot and 11% cabernet franc; 3.75 pH; 14.7% alcohol) Opaque purple-ruby. Deep, rich aromas of black plum, violet, licorice and chocolate. Extremely broad and impressively large-scaled, with almost shocking sweetness to the jammy red and black fruit flavors. This huge, extract-rich Pomerol comes across as dense and luscious, but may prove almost too much for some wine lovers. The long finish features refined, smooth tannins. I did not get to taste the estate's second wine this year, Blason d'Evangile, as only 6,000 bottles were made and it won't be offered en primeur