Château L'If - Saint-Emilion 2015 (Magnum)
IN STOCK
$495.00
In 2010 Jacques Thienpont (owner of Le Pin in Pomerol) acquired six hectares of vines in Saint-Emilion, near the prestigious vineyards of Troplong Mondot and Château Valandraud, owned by Jean-Luc Thunevin. This is a rightful return to his family history, as the Thienponts – originally wine merchants in Etikhove (near Ghent in Flanders) from 1842 onwards – bought Château Troplong Mondot in Saint-Emilion in 1921. However, Georges Thienpont was forced to sell it again ten years later at the height of the crisis, and subsequently bought Vieux Château Certan in Pomerol which is now run by his nephew Alexandre.
"Aromas of blackberries, dried mushrooms and iodine. Sweet tobacco and cloves to boot. Full body and a creamy texture that the limestone imparts. Very persistent. Impressive drive and precision. Try in 2022." - 98 points, James Suckling
"The 2015 L'If is a blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc this year and it was matured in around 50% new oak. It has a very ravishing and opulent bouquet with macerated small red cherries, blueberry and a hint of powdered chocolate, probably from the new oak, and that seems to quickly dissipate. The palate is medium-bodied with crisp acidity, a pinch of white pepper, nicely structured and showing great style on the finish. "That's bloody good," commented Fiona Morrison behind me, and I would not disagree. In fact, over five to ten minutes, this Saint Emilion gained precision and harmony. This is a strong follow-up to the 2014, although let's wait until bottling to see if it is better." 92-94 points, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
"The 2015 L'If, the sibling of Le Pin, of course, has a high-toned iodine-tinged bouquet with floral scents emerging with time. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy black fruit, gentle grip, nicely structured with an attractive cedar- and black-pepper-tinged finish that shows more weight and density than its peers. It is a little heady but it is still well crafted. Tasted blind at the Southwold 2015 Bordeaux tasting." - 93 points, Neal Martin Vinous
Country: France
Region: Bordeaux
Varietal: Merlot, Cabernet Franc
Appellation: Saint-Emilion Grand Cru
Vintage: 2015
Size: 1.5L