Viniou Reviews
Confidences de Prieuré-Lichine 2011 is the second wine of Château Prieuré-Lichine, located in the heart of the prestigious Margaux appellation within Bordeaux's Médoc region. The blend is classic for the left bank, typically dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon, complemented by Merlot and sometimes touches of Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. The 2011 vintage, coming after a warm, early spring and a challenging, rain-affected summer, offers wines with freshness, moderate alcohol, and refined tannins. Winemaking at Prieuré-Lichine adheres to tradition, with hand-picked grapes, careful sorting, and ageing in French oak barrels, imparting subtle notes of toast and spice while foregrounding the finesse Margaux is famed for. Confidences, crafted from younger vines or selected parcels, is intended to be more approachable in its youth compared to the estate's grand vin.
Margaux is renowned for its exceptional terroir. The soils here are predominantly gravelly, offering excellent drainage and providing the ideal conditions for Cabernet Sauvignon to ripen slowly and evenly. This, combined with the tempering influence of the nearby Gironde estuary, results in wines of great aromatic complexity and elegance. In history, Margaux is the southernmost appellation of the Médoc and has long been celebrated for producing some of Bordeaux’s most perfumed and refined reds, expressing both floral and cassis character, often with a silky palate.
For food pairing, Confidences de Prieuré-Lichine 2011’s supple texture and nuanced aromas of dark berries, violets, and gentle oak make it a wonderful match for classic French dishes like roasted duck breast with a red wine reduction, lamb chops with herbes de Provence, or even a traditional entrecôte Bordelaise with shallot sauce. For a local touch, you might enjoy it with confit de canard or a selection of aged cheeses such as Comté and Saint-Nectaire, which highlight the wine’s supple tannins and freshness.
To fully appreciate this Margaux, serve it at 16-18°C. In its current stage of evolution, a gentle decanting of twenty to thirty minutes will help open the wine’s bouquet and soften any remaining youthful edges. The wine is drinking beautifully now, though it will continue to evolve gracefully over the next few years.
