CHATEAU PRIEURE LICHINE 2006

Description & Press Reviews
Wine Style:  Medium Bodied Red

Château Prieuré Lichine lies north of the village of Cantenac near the town of Margaux and is a Fourth Growth Grand Cru Classé neighbouring the Second Growths Châteaux Brane Cantenac and Palmer. The château has ancient roots and was originally a Priory founded around the year 1000. The monks cultivated grapes for service at dinner and at religious ceremonies and the chais at Prieuré still contain part of the Priory's original structure dating from the 16th century.

The château was sold to Alexis Lichine in 1951, nick-named “the Pope of Wine” Lichine was an authority on wine, an entrepreneur, and an author. He also played a key role in promoting the labelling of wine by its grape variety in the 1940s. Lichine was responsible for the restoration of the chateau and the revitalising of its vineyards. He died in 1989 and now his château is owned by the Ballande Group but despite his château being sold, Lichine will forever be a part of it. Thanks to a Government dispensation, he was buried on a little knoll in the centre of the vineyards – the perfect place for such an enlightened man who did so much for the world of wine.

Château Prieuré Lichine has flavours of blackcurrant, cranberry and liquorice. It is medium bodied with mineral and floral notes, is a deep purple in colour and is a dense, well balanced, rounded wine that has been aged in oak for 18 months. The wine ages well and can be kept up to 15 years or more.

Prieuré Lichine is excellent with rich beef dishes such as daube of beef or beef wellington, game pies, duck a l'orange, coq au vin and cheeses.

Jancis Robinson MW OBE - www.jancisrobinson.com

Briary and full and sleek and with a great mouthful of fresh fruit which completely disguises the fine tannins until the very, very end. Bravo! Real complete wine that expresses the vintage and commune. Graceful. Very clean. Whisks over the palate - and actually you could probably drink this over a very long period and enjoy it. 2011-21 17.5/20

To me this wine has more to offer than many other Margaux wines at its price. It is rich and full with pure fresh cassis showing on the palate with a long and a very attractive finish.  Overall a very nice wine and for those who enjoy wines from Margaux they will really appreciate this one!