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L'If, St Emilion
L'If

L'If, St Emilion, 2022

Available Vintages
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justerini & brooks tasting note

It is ten years since Jacques started this project and in that time half of the 8 hectares have been replanted. Today, some of the fruit from these new plots is gradually entering the blend of L'If, young vines that Jacques says are looking

critic reviews

93/100Chris Kissack,The Wine Independent

The blend of L’If in this vintage is 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc, with an élevage in 50% new oak and 50% second-fill oak. The grand vin comes mostly from vines on clay-limestone soils around the cellars, while the second wine Collines takes wines from lower sections such as a parcel near Lassègue. A very pure and focused nose here, fresh and fragrant, with finely polished red cherry and currant, with rose petal and peony. The palate has the same elegance as the nose, pure and precise, with finely delineated and fresh and floral red fruits, red cherry, raspberry, rose and peony, with a rich, limestone derived tannic grip. A delicious, focused and linear composition, with limestone acidity and grip persisting into the length. An elegant St Emilion so different in style (obviously) to the more famous wines of the Thienpont family. I can see this developing well over ten years and more on that structure. The alcohol is 14% on the label, 14.3% on analysis.

DRINKING WINDOW 2028 - 2055
date of review 06/2025
94/100Neal Martin,Vinous

The 2022 L'If, bottled last June, has a delectable, finely tuned nose with a touch of blackberry, light estuarine scents (as observed in barrel) and a pastille-like purity that is very endearing and nuanced. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, wonderful sapidity and just the right amount of weight. The 20% Cabernet Franc lends a slight pepperiness with gentle grip and a long tail. Fresh from start to finish, this is a Saint-Émilion to savor for the next 15 to 20 years. This is superb.

DRINKING WINDOW 2030 - 2055
date of review 02/2025
93/100Jane Anson,Inside Bordeaux

Deep plum colour with violet reflections, and this is full of limestone intensity and grip, with fragrant floral aromatics. Bitter edge of black chocolate, fennel and aniseed, cassis fruits, real purity of character. Cyril Thienpont winemaker. Owned by the Thienponts since 2010. Harvest September 14 to 26. 50% new oak. 35hl/h yield. 3.52ph. New barrel cellar from 2023 vintage, 4,000l Stockinger barrels. 50% new oak.

DRINKING WINDOW 2028 - 2040
date of review 05/2023
93-95/100William Kelley,Robert Parker Wine Advocate

Aromas of raspberries, cherries, spices and bay leaf introduce the 2022 L'If, a medium to full-bodied, layered and fleshy wine that's taut and vibrant, built around lively acids and fine, chalky tannins. A blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc, the decision to halve the volume of pump-overs have delivered a suave Saint-Emilion, even in this structured vintage.

date of review 04/2023

product details

Country:
France
Region:
Bordeaux
Appellation:
St Emilion
Producer:
L'If
Style:
Red Wine
Grape Variety:
Merlot Cabernet
abv:
14%

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