Chateau Prieure-Lichine Margaux 4. Cru Classé 2014

"94 points. Just as impressive from bottle as it was from barrel" - Antonio Galloni
"93 points. A concentrated wine" - Wine Enthusiast
"93 points. Some real power on the finish" - James Suckling

Det tidligere munkekloster Ch. Prieuré-Lichine ligger i Margaux på den venstre bred i Bordeaux. I 1952 blev slottet købt af Alexis Lichine, der i tråd med traditionen navngav slottet efter sig selv, men lod det første navn stå for at ære fortidens hårdtarbejdende munke. På grund af dårlig økonomi og generel forsømmelse talte vinmarkerne ikke mere end 7 hektar og blev solgt for en slik. Men Lichine var visionær for sin tid. Han formåede at vende udviklingen og forøgede beplantningerne til 65 hektar. Demonstrativt plantede han et stort skilt ved motorvejen D2 for at tiltrække turister - et træk, der ikke var videre populært blandt naboerne, da man ikke var vant til turister i Bordeaux dengang.

Senere overtog sønnen Sacha Lichine arbejdet med den kendte Michel Rolland ved roret som ønolog. I 1999 blev slottet solgt til Ballande-gruppen, en succesfuld négociant i Bordeaux, og Stéphane Derenoncourt fungerer nu som førende ønolog. Ballande-gruppen har fortsat genrejsningen af slottet med reduktion af høstudbyttet for at øge kvaliteten, nye metoder til beskæring og en omfattende modernisering af faciliteterne. Kvaliteten er i dag højere end nogensinde før.

Anmeldelser af Château Prieuré-Lichine 4. Cru Margaux 2014 

94/100 Vinous - Antonio Galloni
"The 2014 Prieuré-Lichine is just as impressive from bottle as it was from barrel. Silky, perfumed and gracious on the palate, the wine exudes class. Sweet floral and spice notes meld into a core of red stone fruit, and silky tannins and vivid flavors lead into a creamy and inviting finish. I would prefer to cellar the 2014 for at least a few years, but it is quite beautiful and polished even at this early stage. The blend is 65 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 30 % Merlot and 5 % Petit Verdot. This is a very strong showing from Prieuré-Lichine and consulting winemakers Stéphane Derenoncourt and Julien Lavenu. Tasted two times."

93/100 WIne Enthusiast
"This is a concentrated wine, packed with tannins and black plum fruits. It has some of the fruity crispness of the vintage although with its dark structure and concentration it is obviously a wine that needs to soften over time. Rich and juicy at the end, it will be ready to drink from 2024."

93/100 James Suckling
"This is a fragrant and very attractive mid-weight wine with plenty of ripe fruit to balance the full, dry tannins, which give it some real power on the finish. Drink or hold."

93/100 Vinum Magazin
"Of unbelievable precision and freshness, almost silky, crystalline, great tension and length, juicy, extremely tasty finale, already appealing today and yet it can mature forever."

93/100 Anthocyanes, Y. Castaing

92-93/100 Vert de Vin Magazine
"The nose is elegant, fine and delicate. It reveals notes of cassis cream, blackberry and flowers (violet, cornflower) associated with slight notes of crunchy strawberry as well as woody hints, hints of mocha and a very discreet hints of caramelization. The palate is fruity, fine, sleek, elegant, suave, gourmand and offers a slight acid frame, a racy minerality, harmony as well as a good definition. In the mouth this wine expresses notes of cassis jam, blackberry and red berries associated with slight notes of raspberry, strawberry as well as slight woody notes, notes of spices and mocha. Tannins are fine and well-built. Good length."

92/100 Tastingbook.com

92/100 Jeff Leve, The Wine Ceallar Insider
"Boysenberry, espresso, black cherry and licorice scents kick off the nose. Medium bodied, with a touch of too much oak at the moment, this needs time to develop, and integrate. While this is already better in bottle than barrel, in time, this should be an even better wine, as it continues to come together"

92/100 La Revue du Vin de France
"It offers a density that we had not experienced at Prieuré-Lichine. The mouth is of a nice density, fleshy and above all coated, with fine tannins. Very promising."

Om Château Prieuré-Lichine 

Grand Vin: Château Prieuré-Lichine, 4. Cru Classé  (1855 Médoc & Graves) 
2. Vine: Confidences de Prieuré og Le Cloitre du Château Prieuré Lichine
Beliggenhed: Cantenac, Margaux 
Beplantet areal: 77,5 ha 
Plantede druesorter: 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot,  5% Petit Verdot
Fadmodning: 15 mdr. 50% ny barrique