Why it matters
The producer
Château Prieuré-Lichine is a Quatrième Cru in the 1855 Bordeaux Official Classification, a category that places it among the estates ranked as fourth growths in that classification. It sits in Cantenac within Margaux, with a range led by the grand vin Château Prieuré-Lichine and the secondary wine Confidences de Prieuré-Lichine.
The grand vin is vinified parcel by parcel in 34 concrete tanks of varying sizes. Malolactic fermentation occurs in barrels, followed by ageing for up to 16 months in French oak, with 55 to 65 percent new barrels.
Place and vineyards
Where the wines begin
Cantenac is the commune named in the estate address, Margaux is the appellation, and Bordeaux's Left Bank is the wider setting. An appellation is a regulated geographic name, so Margaux narrows the wine's geography from the Left Bank to a defined area. The commune locates the château within that appellation.
Wines to know
The range in view
The range is split between the grand vin, Château Prieuré-Lichine, and the secondary wine, Confidences de Prieuré-Lichine. The current vineyard composition is 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 51% Merlot and 4% Petit Verdot, with the grand vin vinified parcel by parcel before barrel malolactic fermentation and oak ageing.
Confidences de Prieuré-Lichine 2023 brings redcurrant and raspberry with fresh acidity, and is austere at present. Roasted oak accompanies blackcurrant, cedar, cocoa, tobacco, plum, coffee and vanilla.