1975 L'Evangile Bordeaux Red

1975 L'Evangile

96+ JG

Featured Review

(Château l’Evangile (Pomerol)) The 1975 vintage of Château l’Evangile is one of the greats of Pomerol of the second half of the twentieth century. For fans of this estate who only know the estate’s wines after its purchase by Lafite-Rothschild in 1985, the style of the 1975 would come as a bit of a surprise, as it is a wilder, more powerful and less polished example of this great terroir, which really has more in common stylistically with Château Lafleur’s wines in this era than it does with the more elegant expressions crafted here today. The wine is beautifully complex on both the nose and palate and is only just reaching its apogee of maturity at age forty-one, offering up a deep nose of dark berries, black plums, bitter chocolate, cigar smoke, a bit of meatiness, gravelly soil tones, charred wood and a touch of Pomerol’s fresh herb tones in the upper register. On the palate the wine is complex, full-bodied and beautifully balanced, with great depth at the core, still a bit of ripe backend tannin to continue to resolve, great focus and grip and a very long, palate-staining and magical finish. This is the greatest vintage of Château l’Evangile I have ever had the pleasure to taste. (Drink between 2016-2050) John Gilman

Cellar Tracker | 96+ JG

Another great wine from the 1975 vintage (isn't it interesting that most of the extraordinary wines of this vintage have emerged from Pomerol?), the 1975 L'Evangile was extremely young in the Rodenstock tasting. Bottles I own are exceptional, but far more advanced. This wine displayed a slight hint of amber, as well as a huge nose of fruitcake, sweet cedar, and gobs of black fruits intermixed with scents of truffles. Interestingly, the only other recent L'Evangile with a bouquet similar to the 1975 is the 1982. Powerful and forceful, with rich, jammy fruit buttressed by high tannin, this full-bodied, superbly extracted wine is soft enough to be approachable, but this bottle remains 5-7 years away from full maturity. Drink the 1975 L'Evangile between 2000-2025.
The notes for this wine are taken from the description of Series I of the 1995 tasting conducted in Munich by Helga and Hardy Rodenstock. Many years after the tasting from which this note derives allegations were made concerning the authenticity of old and rare bottles of wine sold by Hardy Rodenstock to collectors around the world. The matter has been the subject of numerous articles, litigation and at least one book. Mr. Parker believes that the wines served to him at this tasting were authentic so this note and the others from that specific tasting continue to be posted on eRobertParker.com.

Robert Parker | 96 RP

Type of Wine	Bordeaux Red : Picture in your mind a combination of cedar, lead pencil, blackcurrant, plum and mineral aromatics, and texture that caresses your palate like a playful lover. The experience is thrilling from the first whiff to the final seconds of a tannic, generous finish - that is what you'll get from a Bordeaux Red
Varietal	Bordeaux Blend
Country	France : Wine is the lifeblood that courses through the country of France, pulsing with vigorous pride and determination. Viticulture is not just a hobby or an occupation in France; it is a passion, a cherished tradition that has been passed down through generations of wine stained hands. Winemaking is a beloved art that has been ingrained in the culture, an aptitude instilled in sons by fathers and the hallmark for which France’s reputation was built, allowing it to be renowned as, arguably, the most important wine producing country in the world. For centuries, France has been producing wines of superior quality and in much greater quantity than any other country in the world. It boasts some of the most impressive wine regions, coveted vineyards and prestigious wines on earth. The regions of Bordeaux, Burgundy, Rhone, Sauternes and Champagne have become the benchmark, for which others aspire to become. Legendary producers such as Chateaux Margaux, Domaine De La Romanee Conti, Chapoutier, d’Yquem and Dom Perignon are idolized world-wide. France has stamped its name on nearly every style of wine, from the nectar-like sweet Sauternes to hedonistic Chateauneuf Du Papes classic Bordeaux and Burgundy, to its sparkling dominance in Champagne. Many of the most infamous grape varietals in the world, such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay originated in France and are not only beloved, but utilized in the creation of some of the greatest wines on earth. French wine production commands the attention of the wine market year after year. With over 860,000 hectares under vine, and numbers close to 50 million hectoliters of wine produced annually, France dominates the market and sets the standard for not only product quality, but also quantity. France’s many contributions to the world of wine have been absolutely indispensable. The country is the originator of the term “Premier Cru,” coined the term Terroir (a French term so complex there is no literal translation) and has laid the blueprint for a structured appellation system, which others have implemented in their own countries. French vineyard techniques and winemaking practices are mimicked world-wide. California vintners have been replicating Rhone style wines for decades, South America has adopted the French varietal of Malbec and countries around the world are imitating Burgundian styled Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. With vast diversity in terroir, France is home to some of the most hospitable winegrowing locations on earth. The combination of topography, geology, climate, rainfall and even the amount of sunlight combined with the long historical tradition of winegrowing and making, has allowed the vintners of France to not only hone their skills, but learn from nature to create a product that like the world in which it resides… is very much alive.