Chateau l´Evangile 2016

WEINWISSER: "Purpur mit satter Mitte und violettem Granatschimmer am Rand. Sehr komplexes Bouquet mit dunklen Beeren, zartem Veilchenduft sowie Kräutern. Gibt nicht viel von sich preis, doch die Tiefe deutet er jetzt schon an. Am kräftigen Gaumen mit seidiger Textur und feinmehligem Tannin, da steckt eine unglaubliche Finesse drin. Pflaumentöne und heller Tabak sowie rote Johannisbeere und Schattenmorellen im Rückaroma vervollständigen diesen eleganten L’Évangile, der ganz grosses Potenzial hat – er gehört daher zu den drei Top-Pomerols des Jahres!"

JAMES SUCKLING: "So ethereal and great on the nose with glorious fresh flowers, such as violets, together with black olives. Dark berries, too. But the archetypal Pomerol nose. Full-bodied yet, at the same time, so refined and structured. Glorious tannin tension and focus. Vibrant finish. Shows energy and focus. Try after 2024."

DECANTER: "For me, this is going to be every bit as great as the 1989, and is a worthy follower to the 2015. It's tight and reserved on the nose, with powerhouse Pomerol Merlot lurking behind. There's a creamy side to the raspberry and blackberry fruits in the mouth, and the power and intensity tells you that this wine has an amazing future. The texture is silky-smooth, attesting to great freshness balanced by well-ripened fruits and seductive tannins. A serious wine. Drinking Window 2024 - 2040"

JEB DUNNUCK: "The grand vin 2016 Château L'Evangile is more primordial than the second wine, sporting a deep purple color and a huge nose of blueberries, scrub brush, violets, graphite, and lead pencil shavings. Deep, massively textured, with building minerality, a brilliant mid-palate, I'd imagine this is a modern-day version of the 1982. A sexy, sexy, wine, it should drink well in 4-6 years but is capable of last for 2-3 decades."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "The first thing you notice is the spice and floral components before moving on to the mocha, truffle and juicy plums. Full-bodied, with velvet textured tannins, everything feels great. The wine has layers of depth, waves of silky, pure, opulent fruits and a finish that stands out, due to all the decadent fruit. The wine is fresh, elegant, long and incredibly rich, as well as tannic. So give this 12 years or so in the cellar before popping a cork."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "The 2016 L'Evangile is made from 92% Merlot and 8% Cabernet Franc. It has a deep garnet-purple color and opens with notions of plum preserves, Black Forest cake, red cherry compote and black raspberries with touches of menthol, chocolate box, licorice and tobacco leaf. Medium to full-bodied, the palate features fantastically ripe, velvety tannins and beautiful freshness, lifting the generous, brightly fruited mid-palate and giving bags of energy to the very long-lingering, minerally finish."

FALSTAFF: "Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, opaker Kern, violette Reflexe, dezent nussiges Boisée, Zimt, Sandelholz, Bitterschokolade. Großes Volumen am Gaumen, reich und cremig, viel Druck, voll und dennoch nicht schwer, zuinnerst ätherisch und ganz entspannt trotz der mengenmäßig kräftig dosierten Gerbstoffe. Charmant, verführerisch cremig und nahtlos rund in allen Komponenten. Endet mit süßer Frucht und seidig-saftiger Struktur, fein mineralisch unterlegt, salzig, die Tannine bleiben nachgerade in der Schwebe."

WINE SPECTATOR: "Features a wide swath of espresso, loam and smoldering tobacco flavors out front, followed by a tighter beam of black currant and blackberry paste. Dense and fleshy in feel, with echoes of warm earth and bittersweet cocoa scoring the finish. This wine flaunts its muscle. Best from 2024 through 2040."

WINE ENTHUSIAST: "Ripe black fruits and rich tannins mark out this wine, almost entirely made from Merlot. It is succulent, crisp and fresh while not losing sight of the essential richness and structure of the vintage. Drink this generous, full wine from 2023."

JANCIS ROBINSON: "Tasted blind. Dark blackish crimson. Toasty and ripe on the nose. Very sweet and luscious. Classic Pomerol. Slightly dry finish."