Prieure Lichine

Château Prieuré Lichine

Classification: Fourth Growth (4ème Cru)
Château Prieuré Lichine neighbours Châteaux Brane Cantenac and Palmer, north of the village of Cantenac near the town of Margaux. The château was originally a Benedictine Priory. The monks cultivated grapes for service at dinner and at religious ceremonies and practices gradually evolved by the 18th century to establish sales of the wine under the name Le Prieur de Cantenac. The chais at Prieuré still contain part of the Priory's original structure dating from the 16th century. During the French revolution, the property was seized, divided and sold in 1789 to several surrounding estates, including Château Palmer.

Alexis Lichine bought the château in 1951. Lichine was an authority on wine, an entrepreneur, and an author – he wrote the Guide to the Wines and Vineyards of France and On The Wine Routes of France. He set about restoring the château, vineyards and modernising the vinification techniques. Lichine built the vineyards up to 143 acres by purchasing land from the neighbouring châteaux. His shipping organization, Lichine & Cie. in Margaux became a leading exporter of first quality wines and he also became part owner and manager of Château Lascombes. Today the Château Prieuré Lichine is owned by the Ballande Group with Michel Rolland and Stéphane Derenoncourt acting as consultant oenologists.

Château Prieuré Lichine has 170 acres of vineyards which are scattered throughout the Margaux appellation with 40 separate parcels of vines. Most lie to the north of Cantenac, on one of the gravel ridges that characterise the Médoc. The grapes planted are 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 5% Petit verdot and 1% Cabernet Franc.

Wine Style
Château Prieuré Lichine's high Merlot content gives the wine suppleness and a smooth mouth feel. The wine 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. The wine ages well and can be kept up to 15 years or more.

Owner: Ballande Group
Oenologist: Stéphane Derenoncourt