L'If

L'If (or Yew tree) is the new wine made by maverick Pomerol producer and owner of Le Pin (Pine tree), Jacques Thienpont. It is situated close to Troplong Mondot and Barde Haut of the limestone Cote of St Emilion. 2011 was the first wine to be bottled under this label (the estate was previously called Haut Plantey). The second wine will continue to be called Chateau Haut Plantey and is made by the wine making team of Jacques and his nephew Cyril (son of Nicolas).

This ancient Abbey is divided into two distinct terroirs. The first is a continuous strip of 2.4 ha (6 acres) located in the commune of Saint Hippolyte, with a southerly exposure, which allows maximum sunlight. The soils here are deep running clay and limestone. The second section, also completely continuous, consists of 5 ha (12.5 acres) on the limestone plateau on the border of the communes of Saint-Emilion and Saint Laurent des Combes, alongside the vineyards of Château Troplong Mondot. Plantings are dominated by Merlot as one would expect in this corner of Bordeaux - 70% Merlot, 25% Cabernet-Franc and 5% Cabernet-Sauvignon.