Château L'Evangile Pomerol 2025 (Primeurs)

Located across from Cheval Blanc on the legendary Pomerol plateau, L’Évangile has a strong case to make: its 19 hectares are planted on deep soils of gravel mixed with clay and sand. The owner, Baron Éric de Rothschild, has equipped his Pomerol estate with state-of-the-art facilities that live up to the potential and reputation of this château. In particular, small fermentation tanks allow for closer monitoring of the harvest and more precise blending. The vineyard restoration plan—which involves grubbing up old vines and replanting—is ongoing. It will take at least ten years for this wine to reach its full potential. L’Évangile captivates with its vibrant vitality, its generous truffle-like bouquet, and its velvety texture of great refinement, offering an elegant dimension without being overpowering. This leading Pomerol has reached a new level of quality since 2004 and has produced a string of superb vintages since 2009. The second wine, Le Blason, is more approachable and offers a taste of Pomerol’s delights without breaking the bank. The 2018 vintage promises to be exceptional!

Founded around the mid-18th century, when it was known as Fazilleau, the vineyard was renamed L'Évangile in the early 19th century. At that time, it covered 13 hectares, an area close to its current size (15 hectares). The first turning point in its history occurred during the Second Empire with its purchase by Paul Chaperon, who had the château built and helped quickly establish its reputation by harnessing the qualities of a terroir that is both highly distinctive and well-balanced, featuring very pure clays, sands, and gravels, over a subsoil rich in iron-rich clay. L’Évangile was sold to the Rothschilds in 1990, marking a second major turning point for this estate, which then benefited from significant investments and the expertise of its director, Charles Chevallier, who handed the reins to Éric Kohler in 2015.

Ideally located between Pétrus and Cheval Blanc, L’Évangile—in which Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite) holds a majority stake—has undergone a major restructuring and a revitalization of its vineyards in recent years, including, among other things, the acquisition of new plots. The results of this significant effort led by Jean-Pascal Vazart and his team are evident in the quality of the wines, and the most recent vintages place the estate among the very best in the appellation. 2018, a particularly challenging year for viticulture, marked the vineyard’s transition to organic farming.

L'Évangile 2025 has been given a new lease on life thanks to winemaker Juliette Couderc. It starts off understated but truly comes into its own after a few swirls in the glass: black cherries, mint, and juniper berries, with a hint of truffle—full of liveliness and energy. A marvelous precision. On the palate, it is medium-bodied, with supple tannins, lovely acidity, and superb minerality. One might almost think it comes from limestone soil, but that is not the case. The finish is very briny and impressively long. This Évangile is remarkable given the vintage and seems to possess a truly distinctive personality.

The aromas of blackberries and black olives, along with notes of tobacco and dried fruit, are captivating and alluring. This is a medium-bodied to full-bodied wine with smooth, refined tannins and a savory finish. It develops a refined and precise character following the complex fruity notes. It has a classic profile, with a velvety texture and beautiful balance. Notes of ripe fruit combined with a refreshing quality. 86% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Cabernet Sauvignon.

The nose, both creamy and spicy, hints at a wine that is a model of balance, one that seems to have channeled its usual intensity. This is confirmed on the palate with a beautifully velvety fruitiness, accompanied by finely polished tannins. The body is tender and silky, carried by a delicate, licorice-tinged freshness. It’s still developing!

L’Evangile has never really been interested in intensity; it is subtlety that takes center stage, as does diversity. Floral nuances, synonymous with freshness, sit side by side with aromas of ripe black berries, while a hint of cocoa emerges in the background. The velvety attack heralds elegance, which is perfectly carried through to the mid-palate with smooth, creamy tannins. The acidity acts in the background, imparting a delightful freshness. The result is a harmonious, elegant, linear, and mouth-watering wine. An Evangile focused on finesse, with the added bonus of a refreshing finish extended by a subtle structure. 2030–2055