2024 - L'If, Saint-Emilion

Deep garnet-purple colored. Needs a little shaking to wake up notes of black raspberries & kirsch, followed by hints of dusty soil, dried herbs, and crushed rocks. The light to medium-bodied palate is lively and fresh with zippy red berry flavors and fine-grained tannins, finishing with a fruity lift.

The 2024 L'If was picked from October 4 to 6 for the Merlot, then October 8 for the Cabernet Franc. It aged for 12 to 16 months in 50% new oak. This has a fragrant bouquet, with mainly red fruit and slate-like scents. The palate is medium-bodied and balanced, with slightly chalky tannins and a little flesh on the mid-palate. Lightly spiced on the finish, this is a comparatively straightforward L'If compared to previous vintages that will serve as a fine earlier drinking Saint-Émilion.

Love the aromatics here, and vibrant ruby colour, this is a real success and bright spot in the vintage, one to look out for, fragrant, tomato leaf, peony, lilac, raspberry fruits, lots of energy and delicate juice, not a powerhouse but skilful and early to medium drinking. 3.37 ph. Harvest 4 to 8 October, really held on to push for maturity. 30% new oak, even after sorting they are at 39hl/h yield here on these clay-limestone soils. Touch of chaptilsation and saignée, showing that even with waiting til October to harvest these things were needed.

Aromas of raspberries, bay leaf, petals and licorice introduce the 2024 L'If, a medium-bodied, supple and lively wine built around a tangy spine of acidity and concluding with a discreetly herbal finish. It's a blend of Merlot with 15% Cabernet Franc.

85% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc. Cask sample.Fragrant red-berry fruit with a chalky edge. Fine tannins that build through the palate. Lots of freshness with a clean, saline finish. (JL)