2014 Château L'If
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Tasting notes
The 2014 L’If has a dense, sultry nose at first, touches of salted liquorice infusing the black, almost tarry fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with sweet but firm tannin, a core of ripe, almost sorbet-fresh fruit, orange rind tincturing the finish. I find this actually improves in the glass, developing more sappiness with time although I would have liked more persistency on the aftertaste. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting.
Critic scores
James Suckling
Neal Martin, Wine Advocate
More reviews and scores
Tasted blind. Strange nose – savage and chewy. Almost feral. Very astringent and unfriendly for now. Stringy end. (JR)
The 2014 l'If has a pretty bouquet, quite intense with hints of licorice infusing the bright and vivid black cherry and blueberry fruit. With time, there is an intriguing melted tar scent. The palate is medium-bodied with quite firm tannin. This l'If seems to have tightened up since I tasted it from barrel, yet it retains impressive focus and energy, long and tender in the mouth with that licorice touch returning on the finish. Excellent, but give this three or four years in bottle.
Produced using 100% Merlot, it's easy to see the licorice, black cherry and earthy scents. Medium bodied, soft and approachable, there is a good sense of sweet, ripe, kirsch with freshness from start to finish.