L'If - Saint-Emilion 2022

Wine Advocate

94

byWilliam Kelleythe3/7/2025

Aromas of sweet cherries, berries and plums mingled with hints of licorice and a discreet framing of toasty oak introduce the 2022 L'If, a medium to full-bodied, suave and polished wine that's lively, seamless and refined, concluding with a chalky, mineral finish. This is one of the best wines from this estate to date.

The Wine Cellar Insider

97

byJeff Levethe3/4/2025

L'if

Jeb DUNNUCK

95

byJeb Dunnuckthe2/28/2025

The 2022 Château L'If comes from eight hectares of vines, mostly located on the upper plates near Troplong Mondot. Based on 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc raised in 50% new oak, its deep ruby/purple hue is followed by a pure, incredibly elegant wine that has a core of black raspberry fruit as well as sappy flowers, chalky minerality, and hints of forest floor. Playing in the medium-bodied, silky, elegant end of the spectrum, it brings beautiful purity, ultra-fine tannins, and a great finish. The level of purity, finesse, and minerality here is something. Give bottles 3-5 years and enjoy over the following two decades.

Vinous

94

byNeal Martinthe2/12/2025

The 2022 L'If, bottled last June, has a delectable, finely tuned nose with a touch of blackberry, light estuarine scents (as observed in barrel) and a pastille-like purity that is very endearing and nuanced. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, wonderful sapidity and just the right amount of weight. The 20% Cabernet Franc lends a slight pepperiness with gentle grip and a long tail. Fresh from start to finish, this is a Saint-Émilion to savor for the next 15 to 20 years. This is superb.

Vinous

96

byAntonio Gallonithe1/28/2025

The 2022 L'If is seriously beautiful. Dark, racy and layered, the 2022 captures all the natural intensity of the year and yet remains so polished. L'If is 80% Merlot (from four parcels) and 20% Cabernet Franc (from two parcels), spread across Saint-Émilion. The 2022 spent 14 months in French oak, 50% new. A touch more Cabernet Franc than in the early days and a parcel on the St. Etienne de Lisse plateau (from 2020 on) have added more aromatic freshness and vivacity here, which is especially beneficial in torrid vintages. As good as the 2022 is today, I get the impression there is a lot in reserve.

Wine Maniacs

95-96

byLin Liuthe5/30/2023

Decanter.com

93

byGeorgina Hindlethe5/25/2023

Vivid and bright purple colour in the glass. Milk chocolate, salted caramel, blueberries, blackcurrants and cherry aromas. Lively and clean, crisp and fresh, a lovely quite sharp, almost sour touch of black and red fruit with a liquorice grip to the tannins. Nicely structured with depth. A little toasted and spiced around the edges, but sleek and refined with an appealing overall weight. Lifted and super lively, softly chewy, just plump enough to give some bounce to the palate with quite a lifted and long finish. Concentrated and powerful but finessed too.

Vinous

93-95

byNeal Martinthe5/17/2023

The 2022 L'If, a blend of 20% Cabernet Franc from fourth-leaf vines and 80% Merlot, was picked on 14 and 26 September at 35hL/ha. The limestone soils percolate through nicely on the nose with mineral-rich blackberry and bilberry fruit, quite estuarine (even if it doesn't border the Gironde!) The palate is medium-bodied with crunchy black fruit and blueberry notes. It's finely structured with a touch of licorice popping up on the finish, overtly spicy on the aftertaste. This is a very well-crafted Saint-Émilion from Jacques Thienpont and team - no wonder it is gaining a loyal following like Le Pin.

Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux

93

byJane Ansonthe5/16/2023

Deep plum colour with violet reflections, and this is full of limestone intensity and grip, with fragrant floral aromatics. Bitter edge of black chocolate, fennel and aniseed, cassis fruits, real purity of character. Cyril Thienpont winemaker. Owned by the Thienponts since 2010. Harvest September 14 to 26. 50% new oak. 35hl/h yield. 3.52ph. New barrel cellar from 2023 vintage, 4,000l Stockinger barrels. 50% new oak.

matthewjukes.com

18

byMatthew Jukesthe5/15/2023

The Wine Independent

93-95

byLisa Perrotti-Brownthe5/15/2023

The 2022 L'If, 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc, is deep garnet-purple in color. It swans out of the glass with gregarious notions of juicy raspberries, plum preserves, and fresh blackberries, followed by hints of roses, star anise, and smoked meats. The medium to full-bodied palate is charged with energy, delivering a firm fine-grained backbone of tannins and lovely tension, finishing long and fragrant. pH 3.52.

Yvesbeck.wine

95-96

byYves Beckthe5/10/2023

La fraîcheur des sols argilo-calcaires est un atout évident en 2022 ! Pour la première fois de jeunes vignes de Cabernet Franc ont été intégrées à l'assemblage. Je ne sais pas si cela est la raison principale de la fraîcheur, mais dans tous les cas c'est une partie de l'explication. Ainsi, le bouquet révèle d'agréables nuances de sureau et de menthe. En bouche le vin affiche de la tension, de la densité et une belle expression fruitée. Que de caractère, de vivacité et de tempérament dans ce vin. Le vin, dans sa globalité, est sublimé par l'omniprésence de la fraîcheur et de la salinité. Je pense que c'est le plus grand l'If produit à ce jour.

Bettane & Desseauve

95

by Bettane & Desseauvethe5/10/2023

On apprécie la fraîcheur florale des tannins et leur énergie. Sa texture veloutée et corsetée contribue à la réussite de ce 2022 qui évoluera parfaitement avec le temps.

Jeb DUNNUCK

94-96

byJeb Dunnuckthe5/10/2023

Coming from the limestone plateau of Saint-Emilion, the 2022 Château L'If is based on 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc raised in 50% new oak. This is a mineral-bomb, delivering ample black raspberry fruit and floral nuances, full-bodied richness, a layered, ripe, textured mouthfeel, and outstanding length. Harvested from September 14-26, with an alcohol level of 14.3% and a pH of 3.52, it's an utterly classic Saint-Emilion that will benefit from 4-5 years of bottle age and have 20-25 years of overall longevity. This might be the finest vintage I've tasted.

Vinous

93-95

byAntonio Gallonithe5/9/2023

The 2022 L’If is a powerhouse. An exotic mélange of blackberry jam, bittersweet chocolate, licorice, cloves and menthol saturates the palate, all backed up by huge, imposing tannins. This brooding, virile Saint-Émilion packs a huge punch. It will be interesting to see if this softens with élevage. The blend is 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc. Drinking window : 2032-2052

The Wine Cellar Insider

96-98

byJeff Levethe5/5/2023

Flowers, wild cherries, plums, spices,, and crushed rocks show in the nose. On the palate, the wine is lively, crisp and fresh, but there is also a depth of flavor. The berries are ripe, sweet, and energetic. But with the 2022, you can really feel the influence of the limestone. The wine is upbeat, and vibrant, with an elegant textures and a spicy tone to the finish. This remains one of the new stars of St. Emilion, and is a wine to follow before prices jump. The wine blends 80% Merlot with 20% Cabernet Franc, 14.3% ABV, pH 3.51. The harvest took place September 14 - September 26. Drink from 2027-2055

Wine Advocate

93-95

byWilliam Kelleythe5/2/2023

Aromas of raspberries, cherries, spices and bay leaf introduce the 2022 L'If, a medium to full-bodied, layered and fleshy wine that's taut and vibrant, built around lively acids and fine, chalky tannins. A blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc, the decision to halve the volume of pump-overs have delivered a suave Saint-Émilion, even in this structured vintage.