Production was down 40% at Chateau L’Evangile due to the frost. The 2017 Chateau L'Evangile is 100% Merlot, and 2017 is the first time this cuvee has not included some other variety. Aged 16 months in 75% new barrels, it's a ripe, powerful L'Evangile loaded with chocolate-laced black fruits, mocha, toasted spice, and subtle oak. These carry over to the palate, where the wine is medium to full-bodied, has plenty of oomph and power, yet stays flawlessly balanced and even elegant. It’s a stunning example from the vintage that’s going to benefit from 4-6 years of bottle age and cruise for two decades.

The generosity in this wine is essence-like with black cherries, black truffles and wet earth. Full-bodied and deep with rich, creamy tannins and a long, intense finish. It goes on for minutes. Silky and fantastic. Extremely well done.

The 2017 L'Évangile is a stunning wine. Frost wiped out half of the potential crop, including all of the Cabernet Franc, which means the Grand Vin is 100% Merlot. Rich, sumptuous and explosive, the 2017 possesses remarkable depth and stunning intensity in all of its dimensions. The purity, energy and textural resonance of the fruit is ravishing. The 2017 saw five days of cold soak followed by 30 days on the skins. Technical Director Jean Pascal Vazart opted for gentle pumpovers and longer extractions than normal. Malolactic fermentation was done in 100% new oak, where the wine is presently aging. A massive, concentrated wine, L'Évangile is going to need a number of years to be at its very best, but it is magnificent, even in the early going. In a word: dazzling! - vinous.com, May 2018

Bordering Vieux Chateau Certan and Petrus on the 'plateau', L'Evangile produces a powerful but elegant Pomerol. First time ever 100% Merlot. Cool, ripe plum and damson fruits. Dense, richly fruited and broad with a juicy midpalate and firm tannic frame. There is a pleasing freshness which comes through on the finish, bringing real mineral characters. There is a savoury, black olive tone which brings a serious edge. This is a dialed back L'Evangile and very pleasingly so.
- April 2018

The 2017 L'Evangile is deep garnet-purple in color, featuring a profoundly scented nose of plum preserves, smoked meats, chargrill and cigar box with touches of licorice, tapenade, tar and truffles plus an earthy waft of underbrush. The palate is medium to full-bodied with a lovely purity of black and blue fruits, accented with baking spice notions and framed by plush tannins that offer just the right amount of provocative grip, finishing long and earthy. - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, erobertparker.com, April 2018

The 2017 L’Evangile is 100% Merlot since frost denied the estate its usual Cabernet Franc. It has a refined bouquet with raspberry and blackcurrant fruit, touches of undergrowth and crushed stone, and floral scents that emerge with time. Yet, I still miss the contribution of the Cabernet Franc. Likewise, the palate is silky smooth with fine tannins, powdery in texture with blackberry and bilberry fruit, yet there is something of a duet being played solo here. A lovely wine given the difficult circumstances, although the follow-up will be better. www.vinous.com

Very dark crimson. Dark, savoury and a touch meaty – beefy. A hint of oak char. Very ripe and spicy fruit flavours, even a hint of dried fruit. Structured and muscular. Compact tannins – smooth but a touch chewy. Savoury, rather than fruity, and firmly dry on the finish. - Julia Harding, jancisrobinson.com, April 2018