2021 L'If St Emilion - 6x75cl
- Colour Red
- Producer Château l'If
- Region St Emilion
- Grape Cabernet Franc / Cabernet Sauvignon / Merlot
- Drinking 2026 - 2040
- Case size 6x75cl
- Available Now
2021 - L'If St Emilion - 6x75cl
- Colour Red
- Producer Château l'If
- Region St Emilion
- Grape Cabernet Franc / Cabernet Sauvignon / Merlot
- Drinking 2026 - 2040
- Case size 6x75cl
- Available Now
Select pricing type
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Pricing Info
Please note: This wine is available for immediate delivery.
Need help? Call +44 (0)20 7793 7900 or email wine@goedhuiswaddesdon.com.
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Goedhuis, April 2022, Score: 94-96
It is extraordinary to think it is 10 years since Jacques Thienpont of Le Pin fame bought this small 8 hectare plot beside Troplong Mondot with wonderful plantings of Merlot and, more recently, Cabernet Franc, which they plan to increase so eventually it will be a 50:50 blend. This expresses Jacques’s sensitive handling of his fruit to perfection: joyous and succulent in character, the tannins whilst lacelike have a fine mineral chalky nature and are gorgeously fresh. A real beauty!
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Goedhuis, April 2022, Score: 94-96
It is extraordinary to think it is 10 years since Jacques Thienpont of Le Pin fame bought this small 8 hectare plot beside Troplong Mondot with wonderful plantings of Merlot and, more recently, Cabernet Franc, which they plan to increase so eventually it will be a 50:50 blend. This expresses Jacques’s sensitive handling of his fruit to perfection: joyous and succulent in character, the tannins whilst lacelike have a fine mineral chalky nature and are gorgeously fresh. A real beauty!
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Antonio Galloni, April 2022, Score: 94-96
The 2021 L'If is super-impressive right out of the gate. A high percentage of Cabernet Franc (21%) along with the introduction of 400-liter barrels yields an If that is marked by a striking interplay of richness and breadth allied to a palpable sense of energy. Dark cherry, cloves, leather, crushed rocks, rose petal and blood orange are some of the myriad aromas and flavors that develop with a little coaxing. The 2021 is a deeply intriguing wine. I can't wait to see how it ages. Tasted two times. Drink 2031-2061
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Wine Advocate, April 2022, Score: 92-94+
A blend of 79% Merlot and 21% Cabernet Franc, the 2021 L'If shows considerable potential, and if it evolves as well as I suspect it will during élevage, it may make my score seem conservative. Offering up aromas of dark berries and plums mingled with loamy soil, black truffles and sweet forest floor, it's medium to full-bodied, layered and seamless, with velvety tannins and a bright spine of acidity, concluding with a long, saline finish.
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Matthew Jukes, April 2022, Score: 17.5
Clean, precise, mineral-drenched and chiselled, 2021 L’If is an arresting wine in 2021 with beautifully expressive fruit and a bright, crunchy finish. There is admirable depth here, and under the purple exterior, an adroit and firm set of black fruit notes stand perfectly to attention. While the finish is tart, it will propel this wine forwards successfully for a good decade and more, and it is already set to be a noteworthy vintage for this fascinating property.
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Jane Anson, April 2022, Score: 90
Cyrille Thienpont is in charge here, and he has teased out attractive blueberry fruits, along with graphite, pencil lead and gunsmoke. Chalky tannins reflect the clay-limestone soils, this is full of pleasure, even while austerity is gripping the finish. Highest percentage of Cabernet Franc to date, after including recent plantings. 50% new oak. Harvest October 2 to 16.
Region
St Emilion
South of Pomerol lies the medieval, perched village of St Emilion. Surrounding St Emilion are vines that produce round, rich and often hedonistic wines. Despite a myriad of soil types, two main ones dominate - the gravelly, limestone slopes that delve down to the valley from the plateau and the valley itself which is comprised of limestone, gravel, clay and sand. Despite St Emilion's popularity today, it was not until the 1980s to early 1990s that attention was brought to this region. Robert Parker, the famous wine critic, began reviewing their Merlot-dominated wines and giving them hefty scores. The rest is history as they say. Similar to the Médoc, there is a classification system in place which dates from 1955 and outlines several levels of quality. These include its regional appellation of St Emilion, St Emilion Grand Cru, St Emilion Grand Cru Classé and St Emilion Premier Grand Cru Classé, which is further divided into "A" (Ausone and Cheval Blanc) and "B" (including Angélus, Canon, Figeac and a handful of others). To ensure better accuracy, the classification is redone every 10 years enabling certain châteaux to be upgraded or downgraded depending on on the quality of their more recent vintages.
