Château L'Evangile, Pomerol, 2015
Evangile proved a little divisive, but the majority of our team fell head over heels for it. This Domaine Barons Rothschild estate has been a little hit and miss in the last few vintages. They possess a wonderful terroir and a capable of producing exquisite wine, and that is what they have done in 2015. This is a hedonistic, impressive, dark fruited Evangile packed with gorgeous liqueur fruits, black cherries, sloes, huckleberry, complex minerals, earth and flowers. The decadent theme continues on the palate. One cannot help but be impressed by the lavish, fragrant black cassis fruit, mulberry, notes of black forest gateaux and crème de mûre that cascades over the palate. Although the fruit is pure velvet, there is enough grip and structure provided by the tannins and some refreshing acidity to keep this in harmony. A deeply impressive Evangile.
critic reviews
The 2015 L'Évangile, which was made by previous winemaker Jean-Pierre Vazart, is outflanked by the Hosanna 2015 that preceded it. This lacks a bit of vigor and tension. Light cedar and truffle scents emerge with time. Interestingly, two bottles tasted in New York at Vinous Icons were fresher and livelier than the one in London. The palate is slightly better with a viscous texture. It's powerful and oaky, with good density and decent freshness toward the toasty finish. It actually finishes on a high note, hence my score, but the aromatics are found wanting. Tasted at the 2015 Ten-Year-On tasting at Bordeaux Index and at the Vinous Icons seminar in New York.
An impressive wine that is showing the fleshy, concentrated, opulent side of the 2015 vintage, damson and black cherry given a kiss of oyster shell and sea spray salinity on the finish. Liquorice and cocoa bean add to the vintage signature, and this has decades ahead of it. Winemaker Jean-Pascal Vazart, DBR (Lafite) owners, close to 100% new oak for ageing.