Evangile - Pomerol 2020

Le Figaro

96-98 / 100

the6/2/2021

Un nez plutôt discret comparé à celui des Évangiles d'autrefois, avec de charmantes notes de fruits mûrs, une vague de chaleur créée par ces arômes d'épices, de réglisse et de fumée de bois. . Des fruits noirs enveloppés dans une cape de tannins velours. Une décadence jouissive, après des années plutôt corsetées pour les Lafite de la Rive Gauche. Sans oublier une belle tension, prolongée par une finale fraîche, saline et délicatement crayeuse.

Vinous

95-97 / 100

byAntonio Gallonithe6/1/2021

The 2020 L'Évangile is fabulous. Aromatic, deep and fleshy, with magnificent purity of fruit, L'Évangile dazzles right out of the gate. Bright Franc aromatics add striking lift as well as vibrancy that carries through to the long, delineated finish. There is an energy to the 2020 that is palpable. Harvest for the Merlot began on September 3, ahead of a heat wave that was forecast, and wrapped up on the 14th for the Merlot and the 21st for the Franc. That approach worked so well here. In the past, L'Évangile and Lafite-Rothschild were very different stylistically, but that seems to be changing now that Saskia de Rothschild is spending a great deal of her time in Pomerol with the new winemaking team. The estate, certified biodynamic as of 2021, has been pursuing a more refined approach for a few years, but 2020 is the first recent vintage where the personality of the year seems to have aligned especially well with the current thinking here. The 2020 L'Évangile is easily the most Lafite-like L'Évangile I have ever tasted. Don't miss it!

Jeb DUNNUCK

95-97 / 100

byJeb Dunnuckthe5/28/2021

Described as a new age for l’Evangile by the estate, their 2020 Château L'Evangile showed beautifully, with the pure, elegant yet still ripe, beautifully concentrated style of the estate these days. Rocking levels of crème de cassis, black cherries, blueberries, graphite, and violets all emerge from the glass, and it's medium to full-bodied, with a terrific sense of purity, present, ripe yet firm tannins, and a great finish. It's a promising, elegant yet at the same time powerful 2020 that's going to benefit from 4-5 years of bottle age and keep for 20-25 years or more. The blend is 88% Merlot and 12% Cabernet Franc, all raised in 60% new French oak.

Vinous

94-96 / 100

byNeal Martinthe5/27/2021

The 2020 L’Evangile marks the opening of a chapter with a new winemaking team in place. Perhaps now it will begin challenging the Pomerol elite, which it ought to, given its terroir. The nose augurs a different L’Evangile, no question about that. Gone is the wall of new oak that occasionally shrouded the fruit and terroir expression; the oak is still there, but far more assimilated into the attractive brambly red berry fruit, black currant pastilles and light rose petal scents. The palate is smooth on the entry, so much so that it belies the depth of this wine. Complex and quite cerebral, delivering palpable salinity, particularly toward the finish. Veins of black truffle and white pepper come through with aeration over the course of an hour, and with revisits at three-hour intervals. I think there is a little work to do, but what this L’Evangile conveys is newfound personality and soul and a sense of Pomerol typicité. A new chapter opens.

The Wine Cellar Insider

96-98 / 100

byJeff Levethe5/21/2021

Dark garnet in color, initially you notice all the truffle, flowers, dark cocoa and plums with a touch of licorice in the aromatics. On the palate the wine is rich, lush, velvety and full-bodied. There is a beautiful richness to the texture on the mid-palate and in the opulen finish with its wealth of chocolate, espresso, black plum and sweet Morello cherries. The endnote lingers, which is what you need, as this tastes and feels so good, you want more of it. If you can, give this a decade of age this will really be singing. The wine blends 88% Merlot with 12% Cabernet Franc, 14.5% ABV. Yields were low at 32 hectoliters per hectare. The Grand Vin was made from 50% of the harvest. 96-98

Wine Advocate

96-98 / 100

byLisa Perrotti-Brownthe5/20/2021

Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2020 L'Evangile rolls effortlessly out of the glass with notions of mulberries, black raspberries and stewed red and black plums, plus suggestions of Indian spices, dusty soil and violets with a touch of iron ore. The medium to full-bodied palate possesses compelling freshness and a fine-grained texture to support the muscular black and red fruits, finishing long and earthy. This 2020 blend of 88% Merlot and 12% Cabernet Franc has an alcohol of 14.5% and a pH of 3.8.

Anthocyanes

95-97 / 100

byYohan Castaingthe5/11/2021

Très beau nez de fruits noirs, d'épices, de fumé avec des arômes floraux. Complexe et dense. Bouche veloutée, juteuse, très beaux tanins satinés avec un fond et une densité impressionnante pour le cru et parfaitement contenue par la fraicheur. Un superbe L'Évangile avec un moelleux et un toucher de bouche remarquables. Pointe graphite en finale. Une évolution qualitative et esthétique de ce cru depuis l'arrivée d'Olivier Tregoat. Pour dans les 15 à 30 années à venir.

My Bettane + Desseauve

95-96 / 100

by Bettane & Desseauvethe5/7/2021

Jamessuckling.com

98-99 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe5/4/2021

This is so floral and pure, showing crushed-grape character with some walnut and crunchy seeds. It’s full-bodied, juicy and fresh. Purity of fruit. Juicy and long. 88% merlot and 12% cabernet franc.