Chateau Prieure Lichine 2020
SKU
PLCS202010 UCAU
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96 Points James Suckling
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94 Points Antonio Galloni (Vinous)
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Luscious fruits and lovely tannin structure promoting ageability
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1 or more bottles$95.00
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James Suckling96 points
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Antonio Galloni94 points
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Robert Parker's93 points
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Neil Martin93 points
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Decanter93 points
Editors notes
Château Prieuré-Lichine
is a jewel of the Margaux appellation. Its wines express the very essence of a world-famous terroir. Every day of the year, the wine estate team shares its wine “art de vivre” with visitors from all over the world.
Medium to deep garnet-purple in color, the 2020 Prieure-Lichine offers up notes of fresh redcurrants, blackcurrant pastilles, boysenberries and dried Provence herbs, plus wafts of tobacco leaf and pencil shavings. Medium-bodied, the palate delivers a great intensity of pure black and red fruit flavors, framed by grainy tannins and a lively backbone, finishing long with a refreshing herbal lift.
Details
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Wine Type
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Vintage
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Variety
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Brand
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Location
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Cellaring
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Closure
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Alcohol Percentage
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Bottle Size
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Oak Type
Tasting Profile
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Light (Light)Full (Full)
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Low Tannin (Low Tannin)Tannic (Tannic)
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Sweet (Sweet)Dry (Dry)
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Low Acidity (Low Acidity)High Acidity (High Acidity)
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Aroma
- Cassis
- Plum
- Red Fruits
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Palate
- Cherry
- Plum
- Redcurrant
Food Pairings
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Pork -
Red Meat
Critic Scores & reviews
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James Suckling
96"Black cherries, blackcurrants, tobacco, cacao and some licorice on the nose. Firm yet creamy, with very fine tannins that spread across the palate. Medium to full body. So long and beautifully balanced. Try from 2026."
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Antonio Galloni
94"(Vinous) Outer quote mark The 2020 Prieuré-Lichine opens with very pretty floral and spice overtones. Pliant, silky and nuanced, the 2020 is all charm. The purity of the red/purplish berry fruit is compelling. Readers will find an understated, classy Margaux full of character. I can't wait to taste this from bottle. A bit clenched today, but that should not be an issue with time. The Prieuré-Lichine finishes with notable freshness and savory intensity."
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
93"Medium to deep garnet-purple in color, the 2020 Prieure-Lichine offers up notes of fresh redcurrants, blackcurrant pastilles, boysenberries and dried Provence herbs, plus wafts of tobacco leaf and pencil shavings. Medium-bodied, the palate delivers a great intensity of pure black and red fruit flavors, framed by grainy tannins and a lively backbone, finishing long with a refreshing herbal lift."
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Neil Martin
93"(Vinous) The 2020 Prieuré-Lichine was picked at 32hl/ha and matured in 40% new oak. It has quite an intense nose of black plum, blueberry and violet scents, though missing some terroir expression and mineralité. It’s high-toned at the moment, but it needs more bass notes. The palate is medium-bodied with slightly chalky tannins and a fine bead of acidity. Very fresh, with fine salinity on the finish. It actually meliorates as it goes on, leaving you wanting more. This has very good potential."
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Decanter
93"Plenty of juicy dripping autumnal fruit, cassis and blueberry with a crack of black pepper and a good lick of saline freshness on the finish that makes you want to take another sip. One of the clear successes, intense and concentrated with balanced tannins and acidity, if some bitter almond overtones. A yield of 32hl/ha. 40% new oak. Harvested right through to October 1st.Tasted twice."
Other vintages
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Locations
France
Wine is being produced throughout France and has been done for over 2,500 years with certain Châteaux dating their history back to Roman times, around 6th Century BC. Ranking second in the world in per-capita consumption and first in total production quantity. More so than the overall quantity of wine is the quantity of truly great wines coming out of France makes the nation the envy of wine-making nations worldwide.
Two concepts pivotal to the higher end French wines, in particular, are the idea of 'terroir' and the Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (AOC) system. Terroir refers to the way the geography, geology and climate find their way into the glass, telling a story of the origin of the wine. The AOC was set up in 1935 and has the primary goal of protecting the authenticity of the wines and the livelihoods of the producers. Appellation rules strictly define which varieties of grapes and winemaking practices are approved for classification in each of France's several hundred geographically defined appellations, which can cover entire regions, individual villages or in some cases, like in Burgundy even specific vineyards.
Classic wine regions in France include Champagne (home of Champagne), Burgundy (Pinot Noir and Chardonnay), Bordeaux (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Petit Verdot), Alsace (Aromatic varietals), Loire Valley (Chenin Blanc, Crémant) and the Rhône Valley (Syrah, Grenache Mourvedre)
The Bordeaux classification of 1855 is still in use, as is the Sauternes and Barsac Classification of the same year. Wines from certain regions can be bought En Primeur, which is when the wine is sold prior to it being bottled.
Bordeaux
Bordeaux has a rich history of winemaking, dating back to the Roman times. Today, it is known as one of the most significant wine regions in the world, with a reputation for producing complex, full-bodied red wines. The region is home to a diverse range of terroirs, each with its own unique microclimate, soil composition, and grape varieties.
The left bank of Bordeaux is dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon, which thrives in the region's gravelly soils. These wines tend to be bold, tannic, and complex, with notes of blackcurrant, cedar, and tobacco. On the right bank, Merlot is king, producing wines that are softer and fruitier, with notes of plum, cherry, and chocolate.
Aside from the red blends, Bordeaux is also renowned for its sweet wines, particularly from the Sauternes and Barsac appellations. These wines are made using a unique process that involves botrytis, or "noble rot," which concentrates the sugars in the grapes, resulting in a lusciously sweet and complex wine.
Bordeaux's classification system has evolved over time, with some estates moving up or down the ranks depending on the quality of their wines. Today, the system includes five growths, with Premier Cru being the highest and Deuxièmes Crus being the second-highest. There is also a separate classification for the sweet wines of Sauternes and Barsac, with Chateau d’Yquem holding the highest rank.
Overall, Bordeaux is a region that continues to captivate wine enthusiasts around the world with its rich history, diverse terroirs, and exceptional wines.
Margaux
Margaux, an esteemed appellation located on the left bank of the Gironde in the Médoc region of Bordeaux, France, is renowned for producing some of the world's most sophisticated and elegant wines. Margaux is home to more than 21 classified growths, which is more than any other appellation in the region, making it an exceptional destination for wine lovers and connoisseurs.
The wines of Margaux are characterized by their unique floral aromas, which are reminiscent of violet and lilac, as well as their rich and complex flavors. These wines are known for their sensuous, elegant aroma, which includes hints of ripe plum, cassis, and truffle.
The history of winemaking in Margaux dates back over 2,000 years to the Roman era, making it the oldest Bordeaux appellation to be planted with vineyards. The region spans 1,413 hectares of vineyards, which ripen about seven to ten days earlier than the surrounding area, thanks to the protection provided by the forest to the West, shielding the grapes from the cold Atlantic breeze.
The soil of Margaux is unique in the Médoc, being the thinnest soil with high gravel content, providing excellent drainage for the vines. This is critical for maintaining the quality of the fruit during harvest, which is essential to producing exceptional wines. The main grape varieties grown in Margaux include Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc, which contribute to the unique and complex flavor profiles of the region's wines.
Overall, Margaux is a wine lover's paradise, with its rich history, exceptional terroir, and unique grape varieties that come together to produce some of the world's most sophisticated and elegant wines. Whether you're a wine enthusiast or a connoisseur, a visit to Margaux is sure to be a memorable and unforgettable experience.
About the brand Chateau Prieure-Lichine
Originally a priory of Benedictine monks who cultivated grapes for service at dinner and at religious ceremonies, practices gradually evolved by the 18th century to establish sales of the wine under the name Le Prieuré de Cantenac.
After numerous owners and numerous name changes, the estate was bought in 1951 by Alexis Lichine (only 11 hectares of untended vines remained) and was renamed in 1953. The following year Cantenac wineries were entitled to use and label under the appellation of Margaux. Sacrificing quantity for quality, trades in portions of desirable land at a loss of two to one were made with third growth neighbours Palmer, Ferrière, Kirwan, Giscours, Issan, Boyd-Cantenac and second growth neighbours Durfort-Vivens and Brane-Cantenac, adding up to 47 acres (19 ha) of vineyards by the mid-1960s. With an aim to produce a wine well beyond its classification, Lichine undertook extensive replanting, repairs and investments and brought in oenologists Emile Peynaud and Patrick Léon to advise on vat selection. By the 1970s the estate amounted to 58 hectares dispersed across the communes Cantenac and Margaux.
After Lichine's death in 1989, the estate was run by his son Sacha for several years, with oenologist Michel Rolland acting as consultant, until the estate was sold to the Groupe Ballande in 1999. The winery currently consists of about 77.5 hectares (192 acres) planted with 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot and employs Stéphane Derenoncourt as its consulting oenologist. The soils of Château Prieuré-Lichine are essentially made up of gravel deposited by the river during successive glacial floods in the Quaternary era. Streams resulting from the floods then cut up these sedimentary soils into well-drained mounds, which today look out over the Gironde estuary.
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