Château Prieure Lichine, 2018

"After considerable investment, this property is showing its true potential. This wine is full of a great black fruit flavor, with generous acidity and a ripe structure. Its black currant flavor is already showing a delicious side, making it a wine to enjoy in the near term."

"The 2018 Prieuré-Lichine is a gorgeous, elegant wine. Strong Cabernet aromatics give the 2018 striking savory notes to play off the natural radiance of the year. Plush and sensual, with no hard edges and terrific balance, the 2018 hits all the right notes. Dried herbs, rose petal, cedar, tobacco and mint linger on the finely cut, persistent finish. This is an especially understated wine for the year."

"Prieuré Lichine has done a great job of capturing the rich concentration in the cassis and blackberry fruits that are easily found in 2018, wrapped up perfectly in juicy, vibrant strands of acidity and tannin. There's no question that this is an intense wine, and although the alcohol is not especially high it has a generous texture. Spice notes lend a sense of uplift to balance out the exuberance of the palate. I expect this will close down for a good few years before coming into its own. Prieuré Lichine operate a gravity-fed winery for gentle handling of the fruit. 2018 saw a yield of 35hl/ha. Aged in 45% new oak."