2024 Ch L'if, St Emilion

DUE OCT/NOV 2027

Quite an aromatic wine with appetizing spiciness, white pepper, hibiscus and red berries. Juicy and bright, with a medium body, fine-etched chalky tannins and a long, bright finish. Very pure fruit with excellent texture and mid-palate roundness. 85% merlot and 15% cabernet franc.

96-97 points jamessuckling.com

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.

89-91 points robertparker.com

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.

92 points janeanson.com

The 2024 Château L'If comes from vines located just beside Troplong Mondot and is based on 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc, with the Merlot harvested between October 4 and 6 and the Cabernet Franc picked on October 8. This deeper-hued beauty offers terrific aromatics of ripe black cherries, darker currants, leafy herbs, and a beautiful sense of minerality. It's nicely textured, medium-bodied, has a ripe, layered, round mouthfeel, and sweet tannins. It's a beautiful wine in the vintage that's well worth your time and money. The alcohol is a natural 13% with a pH of 3.37, and it will spend 12-16 months in 50% new barrels, with the balance in once-used oak.

91-93 points jebdunnuck.com