L'Evangile Makes Pure Merlot Vintage After Losing Half of 2017 Output to Frost

Chateau L'Evangile in Pomerol has produced a pure Merlot varietal wine, rather than the usual Merlot-Cabernet Franc blend, because of damage to vines sustained in the April frosts last year, according to operations director Jean-Pascal Vazart.

It still produced a fresh, elegant vintage, but had to battle the effect of frost which hit very localised parts of the vineyard, as was the case for neighboring properties such as Chateau Cheval Blanc. ``We made half the wine with twice the work,'' Vazart said during a tasting at the estate April 11. ``I made a 100 percent Merlot because I didnt have any Cabernet Franc.'' L'Evangile is owned by Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite), which also owns Chateau Lafite Rotschild and Chateau Duhart-Milon in Pauillac as well as Chateau Rieussec in Sauternes.