Château Prieuré-Lichine - Margaux (Grand Cru Classé) 2009

Château Prieuré-Lichine - Margaux (Grand Cru Classé) 2009 (90 TSW)

The basement of this 80 ha cru is located in Cantenac. The terroir consists of 120 plots spread over the 5 municipalities of Margaux. This means a huge task for consultant-advisor Stéphane Derenoncourt. He left the method that any terroir can be large if we understand that, and when the correct grape variety is planted.

Château Prieuré Lichine was one of his first assignments on the 'Rive Droite' (right-hand side). It took him more than 10 years to understand these terroirs and to achieve the current high quality. This cru is owned by the Ballande group, of which the Belgian Mr. Justin Onclin owns.

The 2009 year is a great vintage with a hot, but never excessively hot summer and a moderate amount of rainfall. Only the hailstorm that occured on May 11th around the villages of Cantenac and Labarde was a big pity.  The château chose for an optical eye for the triage of berries since 2009 (La Vision). For a better management of the uneven ripening of the hail-affected plots (the second year in row) they chose to trial this automatic optical-system sorting method.

About this wine:

Blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and a splash of Petit Verdot. To produce this wine, whole berry, fermentation takes place in 34 tulip shaped, concrete tanks that range in size from 80 hectoliters up to 120 hectoliters. Each of the vats are double skinned. This allows for parcel by parcel vinification. Malolactic fermentation takes place in barrel and aged for up to 16 months in 50% on new oak barrels and 50% on second-fill oak barrels.

My tasting notes:

In the glass a dark ruby red color with light aging at the rim.
On the medium+ nose delicate aromas of blackberries, berries, plums and cherry tones with hints of licorice, barrique, forest floor and smoky hints.
On the palate dry, medium+ bodied, still feeling very young but also soft, round and elegant. The taste is a recall of the nose with medium acidity and tannins. For sure 3-5 years ahead.