A dense color and a nose with notes of raspberry and fresh blackcurrant. Spicy, roasted and truffle aromas follow on the attack. Despite a powerful first impression, the elegant tannins bring great finesse and the finish is very silky and smooth.
Reviews:
- Wine Advocate: The sexy, dark ruby/purple-tinged 2006 l’Evangile achieved 14% natural alcohol, as high as any of the great vintages at this estate. Abundant amounts of dark raspberry and black cherry fruit intertwined with sweet plums and hints of figs as well as spring flowers jump from the glass of this medium to full-bodied, fleshy, supple-textured, silky wine. Drink it now or cellar it for 15-20 years.
- Wine Spectator: Displays blackberry and earth, with a mushroom undertone. Full-bodied, with pleasant fruit and a medium finish. Tight. Needs to come together. A little disappointing after such an amazing 2005. Best after 2014.
Producer Information
Château l’Évangile is a wine estate based in the Pomerol appellation of Bordeaux’s so-called “right bank” – the area north of the Dordogne river encompassing Pomerol, Saint-Emilion and their satellite appellations. In keeping with the general makeup of grape varieties in this subzone, Château l’Évangile produces a Merlot-dominant wine, albeit one that is consistently among the most highly rated of the Pomerol appellation. The land was purchased by the Léglise family in the 18th Century, changing hands several times before it was purchased in 1990 by Domaines Baron de Rothschild, owner of Château Lafite Rothschild. Château l’Évangile lies in the eastern part of Pomerol, a little way south of the famed Petrus vineyard. Here, the 22-hectare (55 acre) vineyard is made up of iron-rich clay and gravel soils. This kind of soil is well-suited to Merlot, which makes up the bulk of plantings, with around a fifth (20 percent) of the vineyard dedicated to Cabernet Franc. The vines are harvested by hand and then vinified plot by plot – the vat and cellar rooms were updated in 2004 to help improve this process. After fermentation, the grand vin is aged in oak for 18 months before release. A second wine, Blason de l’Évangile, uses up grapes that are not deemed high enough quality for the top wine.
