Château l'Evangile Pomerol 2010 / 15% / 0.75 L

Château L’Évangile is one of the stars of Bordeaux’s right bank—an estate with a history dating back to the 18th century, located in the heart of Pomerol, among its most famous neighbors: to the north, it borders the vineyards of Château Pétrus, and to the south, only a road separates it from Cheval Blanc.The soils consist of a mixture of sand and clay—a classic combination for the appellation—with an admixture of pure gravel, and the subsoil features “crasse de fer”—a reddish layer of iron oxides that many credit with giving Pomerol its depth of truffle and graphite notes.The vineyard has about.22 hectares and—as is typical in Pomerol—it is made primarily from Merlot with a significant proportion of Cabernet Franc (known locally as “Bouchet”).In 1990, the estate was purchased by Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite), which thoroughly renovated the vineyard and cellars (m.in.The modernization of the cauldron house was completed in 2004.) and introduced their second wine, Blason de L’Évangile.Longtime visitors to Pomerol also remember the dramatic frost of 1956., after which the vineyards were replanted almost from scratch—which makes the outstanding 1959 and 1961 vintages all the more remarkable.

The 2010 vintage is considered one of the greatest in the estate's history.The wine was crafted from a classic blend of 88% Merlot and 12% Cabernet Franc, and it aged for about 18 months in French oak barrels—all of which were 100% new, which underscores the winery’s style, but with this concentration, the oak remains a subtle backdrop.The alcohol content was about.14.7–14.8%, and the low yields produced a wine with a powerful structure and, at the same time, freshness.

Now for the wine itself, in a glass from the 2010 vintage: it looks like the very embodiment of Pomerol’s gravitas, and in its aroma and flavor it combines power with finesse, offering that blend of black fruits, violets, Cuban tobacco, and truffles, underscored by velvety, long-lasting tannins.This is a bottle that ages beautifully and still has a long way to go.

Appearance: a deep, almost opaque ruby color with a purple glow at the rim; thick tears appear even with a slight swirl of the glass, hinting at its concentration.

Aroma: blackberries, black currants, and ripe plums in the foreground, followed immediately by violet, leather, cocoa, and black licorice; in the background, an earthy, truffle-like nuance and a delicate hint of cedar from the barrel.

Taste: full-bodied and dense, yet brimming with freshness; a juicy core of black fruit leads toward notes of chocolate and graphite, while silky, ripe tannins tie it all together in a long, clean finish; impressive today, but still has plenty of potential for further aging.

Culinary pairings: Right Bank classics—beef cheeks braised in wine, bone-in entrecôte, and herb-crusted leg of lamb; in the Polish style, it pairs wonderfully with game (especially venison) and with truffle tapenade on crostini; as for cheeses—aged Comté or Tome de Savoie.