Confidences de Prieuré-Lichine 2021

The elegance and fruity expression of a Margaux Second Wine

The estate

Château Prieuré-Lichine, 4th Grand Cru Classé 1855, produces great Margaux wines expressing all the characteristics of this superb appellation located on Bordeaux’s Left Bank.

Château du Prieuré de Cantenac became Château Prieuré-Lichine when it was bought by the charismatic Alexis Lichine, the "Pope of Wine" in 1951. After his death in 1989, his son Sacha took over the reins of the estate until 1999, when the property became part of the Ballande group.

The philosophy of Château Prieuré-Lichine is focused on excellence in the production of great wines that reveal the full expression and diversity of the great terroirs of the Margaux appellation.

The vineyard of Château Prieuré-Lichine covers an area of 77.5 hectares. Composed of Garonne gravel, this typical terroir of the appellation captures the heat of the sun during the day and reflects it better at night, thus ensuring optimal ripeness of the grapes.

The vineyard

30 hectares are dedicated to developing Confidences de Prieuré-Lichine, this Margaux estate’s Second Wine. The vines are 20 years old on average and are planted on gravelly-sandy soils. Following the advice of the famous consultant oenologist Stéphane Derenoncourt, Confidences de Prieuré-Lichine 2020 is made from a selection of young vines, with the same precision and attention to detail as the estate's Grand Vin.

The vintage

While 2020 had a dry summer, 2021 began with a mild and wet winter. The warm weather at the end of March advanced budburst and rapid growth development. The frosts recorded between 6 and 8 April had little impact on the Grand Vin terroir. The wet and mild conditions of May and June preceded a mild summer with scattered rain in mid-September, allowing the ripening process to be refined before the harvest which took place from 27 September to 13

Winemaking and ageing

The grapes were brought to the cellar in crates, to respect the integrity of the fruit, and were sorted by hand on a vibrating table and then by optical sorting. The grapes were transferred to the vats through gravity and without crushing. Vatting time was 28 to 30 days. Forty percent of the wines were aged in one-wine barrels and 60% in two-wine barrels.

Blend

Merlot (80%)
Cabernet Sauvignon (20%).

Characteristics and tasting tips for Confidences de Prieuré-Lichine 2021

Tasting

This well-balanced wine releases a silky touch, fine tannins and a beautiful fruity structure throughout the tasting.