The Léglise family from Libourne founded the property that was to become Château L’Évangile. They were actively involved, around the middle of the 18th century, in the creation of Pomerol’s vineyards. L’Évangile appeared in the 1741 land registry under the name of Fazilleau. At the turn of the 19th century, the estate was already close to its current configuration, stretching over some 13 hectares, when it was sold to a lawyer named Isambert. He renamed the estate “L’Évangile”. In 1862, L’Évangile was purchased by Paul Chaperon, whose descendants, the Ducasse family, remained the property’s owners until 1990. Paul Chaperon continued to build the estate’s reputation and constructed L’Évangile’s residence in the style of the Second Empire. In the second edition of Cocks Féret in 1868, L’Évangile is listed as a “Premier Cru du Haut-Pomerol”.
In 1990, Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite) acquired L’Évangile from the Ducasse family with a view to ensuring that the property was looked after to the same high standard. DBR (Lafite)’s initial influence included a more refined selection of the Grand Vin, and the creation of Blason de L’Évangile as a second wine. Efforts were also undertaken to improve the vineyard with a restoration and partial renewal plan that was launched in 1998. The complete renovation of the vat room and the cellar, which was finished in 2004, completed the property’s new configuration.
The vineyard consists of 22 hectares . . . 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc.
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Tasting Notes
88-90 Points – “The Wine Advocate”
Robert M. Parker Jr. (April 2012)
“A dark, grippy, structured version, with a strong charcoal spine running through the core of dark fig, steeped plum and black currant fruit. Loam and bittersweet cocoa notes check in on the finish, endowed with ample buried acidity. Should stretch out pleasantly, but this will need a little more time than most other 2011 Pomerols to round into form. Best from 2017 through 2027. 93 Points, Wine Spectator .”