Released on Friday afternoon (just when we thought the Bordelais were finished with us for the week!) one of the stars of Pomerol, the wonderful Ch L’Evangile.
In prime position on the Pomerol plateau, in the middle of Cheval Blanc, La Conseillante and Vieux Chateau Certan, tasting at Evangile is always a high point of the primeur week. From the glorious cherry blossom that greets you outside the door, and then on into their immaculate vat room which doubles as a tasting room, there is always a wow-factor to this visit. This year was no exception and the consensus from our team and the critics alike is that this is one of the wines of the vintage.
Ch L’Evangile Pomerol 2015
£1,063.00 per 6 bottles IB
One of the most exciting Evangiles of recent times, which highlights the extraordinary quality in this area of Pomerol between Pétrus and Vieux Château Certan. With 92% Merlot, this is jet black in colour, and oozes sweet scented cherries and damsons. An absolute charmer if ever there was one, this is perfectly balanced between elegance and extraordinarily ostentatious deep dark spiced fruits. Very fine, very long and totally irresistible. Drink 2023-2040. 97-98 points, Goedhuis & Co
The 2016 L’Evangile is a blend of 92% Merlot and 8% Cabernet Franc; the latter suffered more stress than the Merlot this year, especially the younger three and ten-year-old plantings. It was picked from 26 September until 10 October, which is earlier than many other Right Bank properties. It has a clean and precise bouquet with mineral-infused black fruit, more “distant” than the 2015 last year. With time, that small proportion of Cabernet Franc becomes more evident. The palate is medium-bodied with firm and grainy tannin. This is very structured as this Pomerol is wont to be, a gentle grip in the mouth, touches of tar and tobacco towards the finish that needs a little more flesh. I feel that this will develop during its élevage. This is excellent, although I do miss the contribution of the Cabernet Franc. Drink Date 2022 – 2045. 94-96 points, Neal Martin
This is a remake of the great 2015 but it’s much finer and more sophisticated. Such great quality and very sexy. Full body and ultra-polished and clean tannins. Salty, dark fruit. Superb length. Want to drink it! 98-99 points, James Suckling
Jean-Pascal Vazart has done a magnificent job with the 2016 L’Évangile. Silky and caressing on the palate, the wine soars out of the glass with extraordinary perfume. Somehow it manages to be incredibly dense and deep yet stay light on its feet. Perfectly ripe, silky tannins add to an impression of total finesse. Captivating and riveting in its beauty, the 2016 L’Évangile is without question one of the most brilliant and memorable wines of the year. Vazart gave the 2016 lots about 31 days on the skins, with a gentle extraction, followed by malolactic fermentation in barrel. 94-97 points, Antonio Galloni
Much darker than the 2015, with dense, blackberry fruit and superbly suave tannins this is a wine with considerable length and winemaker Jean-Pascal Vazart was justifiably thrilled with his wine’s performance. This is a superb, swarming L’Evangile with a dark, soy, richness and it will age forever. With superb glossiness and weight the power is delivered over minutes and not seconds. Stunning. 19+ points, Matthew Jukes
The balance of this wine was hard to get right, according to Jean-Pascal Vazart, but it doesn’t show on the nose or the palate. Using half of the normal percentage of Cabernet Franc, it’s a fine, sculpted, elegantly poised wine with a winning combination of texture, ripe fruit and balancing acidity. 2026-36. 97 points, Tim Atkin
This absolutely stands up to be counted amongst the greatest of the Pomerols this year. It has shots of minerality and elegance darting right through its autumnal fruits, and touches of sexy, bitter chocolate. Persistent, rich and succulent. 92% Merlot and 8% Cabernet Franc. 97 points, Jane Anson, Decanter
