Château Prieuré-Lichine 2015

A fleshy, seductive, fruit-driven style, featuring layers of warm fig, boysenberry and blackberry compote gliding along. Lovely black tea and licorice notes gild the finish, with a flash of very fine-grained alder weaving in as well. Shows good latent depth here despite the forward style, so no rush at all. Best from 2022 through 2035. 17,500 cases made.

This balances the generosity of damson and cassis on one side, with elegance and freshness on the other – the hardest thing to get right in a wine. Notes of eucalyptus, liquorice and spice on the finish, this is just delicious. It showcases the succulence of the vintage, which was given a springboard by the work done at the château. The grapes were harvested over four weeks, compared to just three in 2010, which was also an exceptional vintage. However, 2015 received a lot more plot-by-plot work and also produced higher yields – 42 hl/ha compared to 32 hl/ha in 2010 – giving the fruit more capacity to develop. For me this is clearly the best wine I have ever tasted from the property. Made using 50% new oak barrels.

Some very ripe dark-plum aromas with a wealth of sweet spices and earthy notes. The palate has an impressively rich, suave and smooth core of black fruit with a powerful palate that delivers concentrated and intense structure. This is superb Margaux. Try from 2022.

Tasted blind. Meat-extract nose. Thick and not that typical Margaux, but it should satisfy some. A Napa-style Margaux? A bit demanding on the finish. (JR)

The 2015 Prieuré-Lichine has really come together over the last two years. Sumptuous, bold and racy, with no hard edges or angular contours, the 2015 is all class. The purity of the flavors is striking. Bright floral and spice notes perk up the red stone fruit nicely in this sensual, silky Margaux. All the elements simply fall into place. This is the first vintage Stéphane Derenoncourt and his team made in the new cellar. In 2015 Prieuré-Lichine is a total knock-out. Don’t miss it.

Velvet tannins and a wealth of fruit, with impressive purity, give this wine its character. Floral, with loads of dark cherry, plum and boysenberry, licorice, smoke, espresso and wet earth that add complexity. It keeps getting better every time I taste it. From the initial barrel sample to another tasting in 2017 before bottling and then again in bottle, at each step the wine has really kicked into high gear. This should offer 30 years of pleasure.

Deep ruby with an opaque core, purple reflections and a delicately brightening rim. Attractive black berry fruit, delicately floral, a still somewhat restrained bouquet. Juicy and elegant, pronounced fruit texture, round, vivid tannins, a chocolatey touch, shows very good length, assured development and definite ageing potential with a slightly more opulent style.

The 2015 Château Prieure Lichine is slightly baked and rustic, and a solid step back from the 2014 (which is rarely the case). Chocolate, cooked cherries, licorice and earthy notes all emerge from the glass, and it offers medium-bodied textures and depth on the palate. It’s good, but not one of the best out there and from an appellation that’s at the top of the heap in 2015, this is a disappointment.

Extremely dark purple with lilac and violet highlights. Immediately appealing bouquet, mulberries galore, not too sweet yet showing a beautiful ripeness. On the palate, the fruit is candy-like, with a slightly mealy outline; the prospects are very promising. Can still improve.

Extremely dark purple with lilac and violet highlights. An immediately appealing bouquet, mulberries galore, not too sweet yet showing wonderful ripeness. On the palate, the fruit seems almost candy-like, with a slightly powdery contour, but the potential is promising. Can still improve.

Restrained, austere bouquet, red and blue berries, wood, concrete. Medium-bodied, firm palate with light fruit, finely sandy tannins, muscular structure, good aromatics, dry finish. Still has room to improve. 16/20 2024 - 2035

Generous aromatics, raspberry purée, a little reticent right now as this is a broad-shouldered, well-constructed wine that needs time to fully open. Edges of chocolate and liquorice alongside cassis and black cherry fruit, and even in a generous vintage like 2015 there is still balance from a touch of mint and eucalyptus. It needs a few more years in bottle before the terroir begins to reassert its authority, but this will give exceptional pleasure and is impressive. 50% new oak. Consultant: Stephane Derenoncourt.

Medium to deep garnet colored, the 2015 Prieure-Lichine gives up classic cassis, cedar, and pencil lead notes with nuances of forest floor and charcoal. The medium to full-bodied palate is taut with muscular black fruits, supported by grainy tannins and finishing with great length.

The vintage’s maturity isn’t obvious on this wine. Worth cellaring.

Endowed with an elegant, suave texture, with a supple, free-flowing palate that remains very refined and carries through with good length. A success.

The color is a deep violet with lovely blackberry aromas. The wine is generous, with good substance that remains very elegant. A highly successful Prieuré with flesh, depth, substance, and true elegance.

Garnet red with purple highlights. An intense bouquet combining sun-drenched notes with ripe varietal, spicy and fruity nuances, featuring black cherries, grenadine and a hint of cinnamon. The attack is tasty and juicy. On the palate, the wine is elegant, compact and balanced. The tannins are perfectly integrated, with a very fine grain. Beautiful aromatic intensity echoing the nose. A wine that will reward patience—but the real challenge will be resisting it… for quite some time!

On this bottle, the final expression is a bit monolithic. Medium length.

This is a perfumed wine, rich in black currants and acidity as well as firm tannins. It is concentrated and dense while also elegant. The aftertaste boosts the ripe fruit and balanced acidity. Drink from 2025.