2011 l'Evangile, Pomerol

I found the 2010 l’Évangile a bit overripe and heady last year, but the 2011 is a completely different animal and one of the most beautiful Pomerols of the vintage. The blend will only contain six percent cabernet franc this year, with the remainder made up of merlot, but clearly the merlot had no problem ripening at l’Évangile in 2011, as the wine is outstanding. The harvest was started here on September 6th for the young vines, with the old vines brought in between September 13th and 26th. In contrast to last year’s heady 14.6 percent octane level, the 2011 is a full point lower in alcohol and shows off great terroir as a result. The superb and utterly classic nose jumps from the glass in a blaze of dark berries, plums, coffee bean, a touch of tobacco leaf, lovely soil tones and a suave base of nutty new oak. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, pure and utterly suave on the attack, with a lovely core of fruit, firm, but beautifully-integrated tannins and outstanding length and grip on the nascently complex and very refined finish. This is better than Lafite this year! (JG) 93+