France

Chateau Prieure-Lichine

Chateau Prieure-Lichine 4eme Cru Classe Margaux

Bordeaux

Margaux

Deep garnet-purple colored. Opens with notes of juicy black plums and red currant jelly, leading to touches of fallen leaves, bay leaves, and graphite. The light to medium-bodied palate is chewy and refreshing with just enough savory-laced fruit and a firm finish.

by Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW

Prieure-Lichine 2023 is deep garnet-purple in color. Subtle wafts of juicy plums and fresh raspberries slowly emerge from the glass, plus nuances of violets, crushed rocks, and wild thyme. The elegantly styled, medium-bodied palate is soft and refreshing, with a whispery finish. The blend is 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot, and 5% Petit Verdot.

The 2022 Prieure-Lichine is deep garnet-purple in color. It tumbles out with eager-to-please scents of juicy blackcurrant, Morello cherries, and black raspberries, followed by hints of cedar, violets, and black truffles. The medium to full-bodied palate is densely packed with juicy black fruit and floral accents, supported by beautifully ripe, fine-grained tannins and a refreshing backbone, finishing long and fragrant. This is a very impressive showing for Prieure-Lichine.

The 2021 Prieure-Lichine is deep garnet-purple in color. It gallops out with bold notes of black cherries and redcurrants, followed by a subtle undercurrent of black pepper, garrigue, and forest floor. The light to medium-bodied palate is fine-grained and vibrant, with a refreshing finish.

Austere but sappy tannic frame, this is a successful wine with plenty of damson, bilberry and blackberry fruits, with black pepper, smoked earth, slate, liqourice and grilled almond. Not generous at this early stage, but the foundations are there for long ageing and a seriously enjoyable future. 32hl/ha yield, 40% new oak.

Inside Bordeaux

The 2019 Prieure-Lichine has a medium to deep garnet-purple color. It rolls out with open-knit notes of plum preserves, wild blueberries, and cardamom, leading to suggestions of pencil shavings and raspberry leaves. The medium-bodied palate is elegant and refreshing with soft tannins and well-knit acidity, finishing spicy.

The 2018 Prieure-Lichine has a deep garnet purple color. It opens with notes of stewed plums and crème de cassis, laced with cedar and Indian spices, leading to notes of sassafras and chargrill. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is rich and jam-packed with velvety tannins and soft acidity, finishing just a tad warm. 

Clear spice on the attack, followed by soft berry fruits, finessed floral character, skilful winemaking. Light in structure compared to the previous two years, but there is so much pleasure and balance on display, and it will be great to drink pretty much from now. Smudges of aniseed, fennel and liqourice adds depth, freshness and lift on the finish. Frost impacted the first wine for the first time for decades in 2017, which affected viticultural choices for the rest of the year and needed skilful winemaking to tease out the identity of the Margaux appellation. 37hl/h yield, 50% new oak. Stephane Derenoncourt consultant.

Exuberant from the first moment, with an expansive feel through the mid palate, and supple tannins that support the fruit without restricting it. Expect waves of blackberry, cassis, liqourice, smoked earth, campfire, pomegrante, crayon, giving plenty of Left Bank character. A fascinating estate from a terroir point of view, as former owner Alexis Lichine bought small plots from across the appellation when he was building it up from the 4ha that remained when he first bought it. Standing at 78ha today, the vines are divided into five sections around the Margaux appellation, and sub-divided into 150 plots. Étienne Charrier technical director since 2012, Stephane Derenoncourt consultant.

Generous aromatics, raspberry puree, a little reticent right now as this is a big shouldered and well constructed wine that needs time to fully open. Edges of chocolate and liqourice alongside the cassis and black cherry fruits, and even in a generous vintage like 2015 there is still balance offered by a touch of mint and eucalyptus. Needs another few years in bottle before the terroir begins to reassert its authority, but this will give exceptional pleasure and is impressive. 50% new oak. Stephane Derenoncourt consultant.

The 2014 Prieure-Lichine is medium to deep garnet-brick in color. Classic scents of plum preserves, cassis, and cedar lead to touches of truffle and tapenade. The medium-bodied palate is firm and chewy, with just enough fruit and a rugged finish.

The 2013 Prieure-Lichine has a medium garnet color, with a touch of brick. Exotic spice and incense notes waft from the glass, followed by suggestions of fruitcake, mince pie, tobacco leaf, and dried herbs. The medium-bodied palate is filled with plush-textured black and red berry layers, lifted by refreshing acidity and finishing long and spicy. Nice!

Medium to deep garnet colored, the 2012 Prieure-Lichine reveals notes of sweaty leather, rusty nails, and pencil lead with underlying notes of dried figs and prunes. The medium-bodied palate is fading, firm, and chewy with a rustic, dried berries and stewed tea finish.

A little more evolved than the 2009 and 2010, showing touches of leather and tobacco, a great moment to start drinking. This was an early season, and the tannins are angular as I often find with the 2011s right now, but there is a floral edge that brings us to Margaux and an enticing woodsmoke curl alongside white pepper, cigar box and raspberry fruit. Good to go. 32hl/h yield, early harvest from September 12 to 28. Stephane Derenoncourt consultant.

An exceptional vintage, higher in fresh acidities that the 2009 but no drop in generosity, accentuating the juice running through the rich black fruits. Plenty of tannic grip, with tobacco, cigar box, spice and smoked earth. Uncurls and deepens after an hour in the glass. You will find 2010 classified Bordeaux wines that are more closed than this, and in fact this Prieuré is relatively similar in profile to the 2009, more so than at many estates where the 2010 is far more severe - something that makes this a great choice for drinking now and over the next decade without worrying that you are missing out on its best moments. 37hl/h yield, 50% new oak, harvest September 30 to October 20. Stephane Derenoncourt consultant.

An excellent vintage, showing beautiful depth and complexity at 13 years old. Grilled spices, warming turmeric and clove, gentle tobacco, cigar box, leather, raspberry leaf, eucalyptus, and touches of saline crackers. Almost hinting at tertiary flavours, but more reflecting the warmth and generosity of the vintage. Plenty of life but you can begin to enjoy this now - it's a wine for sharing. A touch of hail in May meant they used an optical sorting machine for the first time. 50% new oak, harvest September 30 to Ocober 19. First year with Etienne Charrier as technical director, coming over to Margaux from Château Mazèyres in Pomerol. Stephane Derenoncourt consultant.

2024	No priceNot available	Excellent
2023	No priceNot available	Outstanding
2022	No priceNot available	Outstanding
2021	No priceNot available	Excellent
2020	No priceNot available	Excellent

Category	Red wine
Vinmonopolet no.
Producer	Chateau Prieure-Lichine
Vintages	1976
Country	France, Bordeaux, Margaux
Bottle	75 cl

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