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Saint Emilion, Les Collines de L’IF 2018

kr. 375,00 inkl. moms

Saint Emilion, Les Collines de L’IF 2018

This is the second release of Collines de L’If, its name evocative of the rolling slopes where the grapes for this second wine are grown. Made from a blend of 91% Merlot and 9% Cabernet Franc, the Collines vineyard comprises three hectares of the estate. Made in small vats with aging for one year in half new and half one year barrels, this wine embodies the unique personality of the estate through its young vines. Collines de L’If is fine and fresh with notes of autumn fruits, licorice and spices. It has a lovely impression of conviviality, good richness and an attractive balance between fruit and soil with a touch of mint. The finish is long and appetizing with a red fruit character that is typical of Saint Emilion wines. The productions is only 15,000 bottles in 2018. A real steal.! 

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Kategorier: Frankrig, Rødvin, Saint Emilion Tags: L'if, Saint Emilion

Château L’if

L’if was purchased by Jacques Thienpont in 2010. Jacques Thienpont is best known for owning the famous Pomerol estate, Le Pin. Le Pin takes its name from the lone pine tree on the property. As an homage to their Pomerol estate, Chateau L’if also found the inspiration for its name from a tree. Chateau L’if is loosely translated into the French word for Yew tree.

At the time of the purchase, when L’if was sold by Michel Boutet to Jacques Thienpont, the Right Bank property was called Chateau Le Haut-Plantey. Before that, the wines made at the chateau were sold under the name of Chateau La Bouygue.

The original purchase included about 5 hectares of vines. Since then, additional parcels have been purchased that have increased the size of the estate. Currently, L’if is managed by a cousin of Jacques Thienpont, the son of Nicolas Thienpont, Cyrille Thienpont.

The 8 hectare St. Emilion vineyard of L’if is planted to 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc. A small portion of Cabernet Sauvignon that was equal to about 1% of the vineyard has been removed. This is a continuing change in the vineyard makeup as there was a much higher planting of Cabernet Sauvignon in the past. YOu can expect a higher percentage of Cabernet Franc here in the future.

L’if is located just east of the Saint Emilion village, not far from Chateau Troplong Mondot or La Mondotte. A smaller portion of the vineyard is also situated in a valley, close to Chateau Lassegue, which is about a mile from the main vineyard. The terroir is chalky limestone with clay soils.

The vineyards for L’IF are divided into 14 separate parcels. Following the initial purchase of the estate, a lot of work went into the vineyard starting with the planting of a diverse array of grasses. Vines were replanted at higher densities.

It is the goal of the estate to eventually increase the amount of Cabernet Franc in the vineyards as well as to increase the vine density. It’s important to keep in mind, that as of 2014, portions of the vineyard are being replanted and some of the parcels are lying fallow, so production should be low until about 2020.

The vinification of L’if takes place in conical-shaped, temperature-controlled, stainless steel vats. Malolactic fermentation takes place in 50% new, French oak barrels. The wine of L’if is then aged in 50% new, French oak barrels for an average of 12 to 16 months before bottling.