If there is one thing that we have learnt over the years with Chateau L’Evangile, it is to expect the unexpected. As one of the top three Pomerol estates in the 19th century (along with Chateau Certan and Petrus), the wine was most definitely one of Bordeaux highest flyers. But while L’Evangile might be in illustrious company, the difference between it and the others is that L’Evangile retained a small artisanal approach to wine making, while Petrus and Certan were all about the gloss.

Evangile’s first surprise was changing its name. What had previously been Chateau Fazilleau from the mid-18th to 19th centuries, became known under the sexier moniker of L’Evangile (translation “the Gospel”) after its purchase by Jean-Paul Chaperon in 1862. By 1868, and under Chaperon’s expert steerage, L’Evangile had earnt its place in the illustrious Cocks & Feret wine directory as a “Premier Cru du Haut-Pomerol”. Chaperon was also responsible for building the beautiful chateau that we see on the label.

So, while L’Evangile held its own in the happy trinity of Petrus and Certan for the majority of the 19th and 20th centuries, all that was to change. As mentioned, the wine was one of Pomerol’s favourites, surprising as the region was barely considered in the 1855 appellation and was often overshadowed by its more illustrious right bank neighbours (Bordeaux Superior, we are looking at you). As mentioned, one must always expect the unexpected with this estate and true to form, 1990 saw the Chaperon family sell 70% to the owners of the famous, First Growth, Pauillac estate, Château Lafite Rothschild. Despite Baron Eric de Rothschild clearly knowing how to run an estate, Simone Ducasse, Chaperon’s widow, was having none of it. De Rothschild was reduced to “sneaking in new oak barrels destined for ageing in the dead of night” as Ducasse did not agree with the modernisation of “her'' estate. Rumour has it that as no invoice was ever presented, she turned a blind eye to the new equipment. The remaining 30% was sold in 1999.

Once the de Rothschild’s were at the reins proper, they began a heavy investment programme. This not only included the aforementioned new oak barrels, a new vat room and the cellar, and the creation of a second wine, Blazon de L’Evangile.

The 22-hectare estate is planted to 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc. However, a small parcel of Cabernet Sauvignon has recently been added and was used for the first time in 2019s vintage. This same vintage was released significantly lower (25%) than the previous year – release prices ex-negociant were €135 in 2020 (for the 2019 wine) vs €180 for 2018s wine. However, stateside a single bottle of 2019 is already fetching around €160 while 2018s offering is tipping €200.