L'If - Saint-Emilion 2021

Vinous

96

byAntonio Gallonithe4/2/2024

The 2021 L’If is a wine of power and reserve. It exudes notable density and richness, but in the more restrained style of the year. Black cherry, graphite, spice, leather, tobacco and chocolate fill out the layers effortlessly. The 2021 is a gorgeous wine

Vinous

96

byAntonio Gallonithe2/28/2024

The 2021 L’If is a wine of power and reserve. It exudes notable density and richness, but in the more restrained style of the year. Black cherry, graphite, spice, leather, tobacco and chocolate fill out the layers effortlessly. The 2021 is a gorgeous wine, but it won't be ready to appreciate fully for a number of years. Even so, it was exquisite in two separate tastings.

Wine Spectator

88

byJames Molesworththe2/22/2024

Reveals a core of direct black cherry and plum fruit wrapped in a layer of singed cedar and vanilla, with a lively savory edge peeking in on the finish. Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Drink now through 2027. 830 cases made.  –JM

Jeb DUNNUCK

93-95

byJeb Dunnuckthe6/2/2022

From the team at Le Pin, the 2021 Château L'If comes from an 8-hectare parcel near Troplong Mondot that was planted in 2010. A blend of 79% Merlot and 21% Cabernet Franc resting in 50% new barrels, it has a medium-bodied, elegant, yet concentrated profile as well as notes of ripe cherries, darker raspberries, chalky minerality, and spring flowers. The tannins here are top-notch, and it has good mid-palate depth and a great finish. A gem of a wine, it can be hard to find in the market, but it's worth tracking down.

Jamessuckling.com

95-96

byJames Sucklingthe5/25/2022

A serious and saline red with blue fruit, cloves, iodine and black licorice. Oyster shells, too. Medium to full bodied with fine, firm tannins that run the length of the wine. Focused. 79% merlot and 21% cabernet franc.

Bettane & Desseauve

92-93

by Bettane & Desseauvethe5/24/2022

Énergie profonde, bien habillée par un crémeux distingué et une fraîcheur finale qui a de la relance.

The Vintage Journal

94-95

byAndrew Caillard MWthe5/17/2022

Medium-deep crimson. Lovely elderberry, blackberry, vanilla aromas with some dark notes. Generous elderberry, blackcurrant blackberry flavours, fine cedar tannins, finishes chalky dry with bittersweet notes. Structured and linear but very good fruit definition. 79% merlot, 21% cabernet franc. 12–16 months in new (50%) and second-use (50%) French oak.

The Wine Cellar Insider

94-96

byJeff Levethe5/16/2022

Deeply colored, the nose pops with flowers, red pit fruits, cherries, red plums, smoke and charcoal. Rich, and sweet, with ripe, round tannins and silky-textured plums, dark chocolate and espresso on the mid-palate, with a fair amount of salinity on the backend in the finish, this is quite successful for the vintage.. This remains one of the new stars of St. Emilion and is a wine to follow before prices jump. The wine blends 79% Merlot with 21% Cabernet Franc, 13.5% ABV, pH 3.61. Drink from 2026-2050. 94-96

Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux

90

byJane Ansonthe5/13/2022

Vinous

93-95

byNeal Martinthe5/12/2022

The 2021 L'If was picked October 2–16 and sees a higher proportion of Cabernet Franc (21%), as new plantings from a massal selection from Pavie-Macquin enter the Grand Vin. For the first time, I think L'If matches Le Pin pound for pound. Exuberant yet well-defined red fruit soars from the glass along with touches of shell, subtle estuarine aromas and so forth. The palate is medium-bodied with perhaps a little more concentration than its aforementioned stablemate, hints of blue fruit and iodine emerging toward the finish. The Cabernet really adds something to the blend here, and it will be fascinating to watch this evolve. (13.5% alcohol)

Vinous

94-96

byAntonio Gallonithe5/11/2022

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.

Anthocyanes

92-94

byYohan Castaingthe5/6/2022

8 hectares. Assemblages non réalisés. Bien qu'un peu fermé et timide, le bouquet évolue à l'aération vers des notes de fruits noirs, de fusain, de violette et de mure. Très racinaire. Boisé fondu. Juteux, trame tannique élégante même si elle reste structurante et ferme, les argiles parlent fort et la partie calcaire tend l'ensemble, notamment en finale. Une très belle bouteille.

Wine Advocate

92-94

byWilliam Kelleythe4/29/2022

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. (92 - 94)+

Decanter.com

93

byGeorgina Hindlethe4/1/2022

Fragrant black cherries with dark chocolate, smells so beautifully scented with juniper, plum and damson. Bright and characterful, sleek and suave on the palate, fresh and fruity, filling the mouth with mouthwatering juice. I love the minerality - saline, iodine, graphite, wet stone and pencil lead flavours with a chalky feel. It has an expansive but gentle character in the mouth, not massively weighty but a good push of flavour. A touch of austerity comes into play but this maintains direction with tension and clarity. Well worked and graceful, if a little compact right now. Lots of promise.