Château Prieuré-Lichine Margaux 2018 - 4ème Grand Cru Classé

Bettane & Desseauve

About the wine:

Full-bodied, with a touch of austerity, sincere and complex. It will certainly improve with age.

About the estate:

With a complex portfolio of vineyards spread across various sectors of the appellation, this estate is gradually becoming a benchmark for discerning wine enthusiasts. The new fermentation facility allows for plot-by-plot vinification, giving each its own chance, and the viticultural choices inspired by the estate’s consultant, Stéphane Derenoncourt, account for the quality of the latest harvests. The wine possesses all the expected finesse and grace, in a form that is immediately apparent, and prices remain reasonable.

Decanter

About the wine:

Power, character, and richness abound, with well-integrated notes of blackcurrant and Damascus fruit. This is a well-crafted wine with hints of chocolate, silky tannins, and a very spicy finish. Yield: 35 hl/ha. 45% new oak. 2026–2042

Guide Hachette des vins

About the estate:

Founded by the monks of Vertheuil Abbey, the former Saint-Didier de Cantenac priory produced a wine that was already renowned during the Ancien Régime. But it owes its fame—and its current name (the estate was then known as Prieuré-Cantenac)—to Alexis Lichine. This famous American-Russian owner and wine merchant, nicknamed the “wine pope” and author of an *Encyclopedia of Wines and Spirits from All Countries* that served as a long-standing reference, acquired the estate in 1951 and revived it. Owned by the Bordeaux-based Ballande group since 1999, it comprises 80 hectares of vineyards located in the heart of the Cantenac-Margaux plateau. Étienne Charrier has been in charge of technical management since 2009.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About the estate:

The estate has been owned by the Ballande Group, based in New Caledonia, since 1999. Since the new winery began operations in 2013, we have seen significant improvements. The wines, which sometimes lacked body and depth compared to the best, have become much more full-bodied. This new ambition and the resources that were allocated were necessary. The reasonable prices make this a great deal for wine lovers.

Wine Enthusiast

About the wine:

This wine reveals the vintage’s generous richness while retaining its finesse, thanks to delicate tannins and a crisp blackcurrant acidity. Its structure and fruit promise excellent aging potential. Best enjoyed starting in 2027. - Roger Voss

Vinous

About the wine:

Prieuré-Lichine 2018 is a magnificent and elegant wine. The powerful aromas of Cabernet bring savory notes that complement the vintage’s natural brilliance. Sumptuous and sensual, with no harshness and exceptional balance, this 2018 reaches new heights. Notes of dried herbs, rose petals, cedar, tobacco, and mint linger on the finely crafted, persistent finish. It is a particularly understated wine for the year. 2028–2048

James Suckling

About the wine:

Aromas of blackberries, white pepper, and hints of tuile. It is full-bodied with firm, chewy tannins, yet beautifully polished and well-integrated. A lingering finish. It needs time to soften and come together. Best enjoyed after 2024.

Le Figaro vins

About the wine:

The truly distinctive nose, with its lovely aromas of ripe strawberries, blueberries, and violets, lends complexity to the wine, which unfolds into a well-structured palate with impeccable smoothness.