Chateau L'Evangile

Based on Bordeaux's elite Right Bank, surrounded by famed estates like Cheval Blanc and Petrus, lies Chateau L'Evangile, a powerhouse Pomerol producer with immaculate merlot-based wines. Now owned by the First Growth, Lafite Rothschild, L'Evangile stands toe-to-toe with any of its neighbors, gaining widespread love and acclaim from critics and enthusiasts alike. As the estate receives increasing investments and care from one of the world's most talented winemaking teams, its wine continues to rise in Bordeaux's rank and find a home as one of the wine world's most beloved wines. 

The Origins of Chateau L'Evangile

When Chateau L'Evangile was first founded in 1741 by the Leglise family, the estate was known as Fazileau, ultimately making a name change to its current iteration. After a little over half a century of ownership, the chateau was sold to a lawyer named Isambert, who then sold L'Evangile to Paul Chaperon in 1862. Chaperon was a relative of the well-known Ducasse family, who took charge of the estate, transforming L'Evangile into one of Pomerol's top producers. By the late 20th century, Chateau L'Evangile was widely regarded as one of the region's three greatest estates, alongside Petrus and Cheval Blanc. With much success came demanding financial investments, forcing the family to sell 70% of its share to Domaines Baron de Rothschild of Chateau Lafite Rothschild. 

Throughout the rest of the decade, Lafite slowly gained more and more capital of the estate, becoming the full owners in 1999. While L'Evangile already had a high status in Pomerol, the Rothschilds pumped more and more investments into the estate, replanting the entire vineyard and upgrading the chateau, cellar, and vat rooms. These investments paid off, as L'Evangile transformed into a Bordeaux powerhouse, gaining increased attention across the globe. 

Chateau L'Evangile Pomerol Terroir

Chateau L'Evangile is set on the eastern block of Pomerol, with 43 plots on its 22-hectare vineyard. The vines' average age is 30 years old and 6,000 vines are planted per hectare. Merlot is the dominant wine on this vineyard, making up 79% of the total vines, with cabernet franc falling second at 20%, and cabernet sauvignon only totalling 1% of the estate's vines. Similar to neighboring estates, Petrus and Cheval Blanc, L'Evangile's vineyards contain world-famous clay and gravel soils, unique to the region and enviable to winemakers throughout the world. The iron-rich soils are split into three major units across the vineyard:

• Pelosols at the top of the plateau contain swelling clays
• Gravel-clay to gravel-sand soils near the middle
• Soils with a sandy texture in the lower sector of the plateau

As L'Evangile's status continues to grow in Bordeaux, so does its land. In 2012, the estate purchased 6 hectares from La Croix de Gay and looks to add more of Pomerol's prestigious land to its possession. With the Rothschilds as hungry as ever, it would be no surprise to see its 22-hectare grow exponentially. 

Chateau L'Evangile Winemaking

There are no mistakes or coincidences in producing world-class wine, and the L'Evangile winemaking team has perfected its formula throughout the past 25 years. As heavy rainfall dominates the early year period in Pomerol, bud break typically begins near the end of March, with mid-flowering occurring in the hot and dry June. By the end of the harvest in September, the fruit is fully ripened and ready for harvesting.

The team visits each plot, hand-picking the grapes and vinifying them plot by plot. Once they reach the vat room, the fruit is placed in temperature-controlled cement vats and undergoes fermentation before aging in 70% new oak for 18 months. Only two to three thousand cases are produced a year, with additional fruit allocated to the second wine, Blason de L'Evangile. 

L'Evangile is dedicated to organic farming, gaining a B Corp certification in December 2023 for its rigorous commitment to environmentally friendly harvesting. Some techniques include late pruning of frost-sensitive plots, optimizing leaf surface to better manage water stress, and installing five beehives around the site. The estate has also experimented with additional organic methods like grassing over the plots and using compost rather than chemical fertilizers.

2016 Chateau L'Evangile Vintage

A standout release for the acclaimed Right Bank producer includes the 2016 bottle, receiving 99 points from James Suckling and additional 98-point ratings from Jeb Dunnuck and Jane Anson of Decanter Magazine. The latter critics compared the bottle to the legendary 1989 showing, stating that its "power and intensity tells you that this wine has an amazing future." The harvest received excellent weather despite having the warmest and rainiest winter ever recorded. Its final blend contained 92% merlot and 8% cabernet franc, displaying a deep, intense, and powerful nose alongside L'Evangile's trademarked silky and elegant mouthfeel. Now approaching ten years, the bottle is reaching an excellent drinking window, though it can still be matured for another 10-15 years for maximum drinking pleasure. 

Add a Bottle of Chateau L'Evangile Wine to Your Cellar

Chateau L'Evangile continues to be one of Pomerol and Bordeaux's most consistent producers throughout the past 30 years. With excellent ownership and continual funds necessary to keep operations at their best, any bottle from this Right Bank producer will fit perfectly in an empty spot in your cellar. Take a look through our broad selection of Chateau L'Evangile wines and add one to your collection today.