CHÂTEAU PRIEURÉ LICHINE
2020 4ème Cru Classé Margaux
Black cherries, blackcurrants, tobacco, cacao and some licorice on the nose. Firm yet creamy, with very fine tannins that spread across the palate. Medium to full body. So long and beautifully balanced. Try from 2026. Rating: 96 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (May 2023)
* This is a pre-shipment/primeur offer. All orders are accepted under the TERMS of this offer which differ from the terms of the rest of the site.
The 2020 Prieuré-Lichine is elegant and nuanced, just as it was en primeur. Even so, I had hoped to see another step forward in this vintage, and it's just not there. For example, the aromatics aren't quite as focused as they could be. Prieuré-Lichine is still a very good wine, but it is not all it could be. Drinking range: 2027 - 2040 Rating: 93 Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (Feb 2023)
Totally delicious, just bursting with flavour, with silky tannins and purity to the raspberry, redcurrant and blackcurrant fruits, cloves and black pepper spices add clear depth through the mid palate. It's not often that I prefer a 2020 to the 2019 in Margaux but this is a standout in the lineup. 2020 had natural low yields - 34hl/h yield overall, 32hl/h for the first wine, 40% new oak, being bottled at the time of tasting for delivery in September, so this is a barrel sample but only just. Stephane Derencourt consultant, harvest September 14 to October 1. Drinking range: 2028 - 2045 Rating: 95 Jane Anson, Decanter (Jun 2022)
This is a blunt wine with an unripe theme and the finish is seriously dry, too. Mint and dried herb notes abound and this signals fruit that did not reach true ripeness. I cannot see this wine softening given time. Rating: 15+? Matthew Jukes www.matthewjukes.com (Jun 2021)
The 2020 Prieuré-Lichine opens with very pretty floral and spice overtones. Pliant, silky and nuanced, the 2020 is all charm. The purity of the red/purplish berry fruit is compelling. Readers will find an understated, classy Margaux full of character. I can't wait to taste this from bottle. A bit clenched today, but that should not be an issue with time. The Prieuré-Lichine finishes with notable freshness and savory intensity. Drinking range: 2035 - 2050 Rating: 91-94 Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (Jun 2021)
The 2020 Prieuré-Lichine was picked at 32hl/ha and matured in 40% new oak. It has quite an intense nose of black plum, blueberry and violet scents, though missing some terroir expression and mineralité. It’s high-toned at the moment, but it needs more bass notes. The palate is medium-bodied with slightly chalky tannins and a fine bead of acidity. Very fresh, with fine salinity on the finish. It actually meliorates as it goes on, leaving you wanting more. This has very good potential. Drinking range: 2025 - 2045 Rating: 91-93 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (May 2021)
The ruby/purple-hued 2020 Château Prieure-Lichine offers a medium to full-bodied, plush, layered style that carries beautiful red and blue fruits, notes of sandalwood and flowery incense, outstanding overall balance, ripe tannins, and a great finish. Rating: 91-93 Jeb Dunnuck, www.jebdunnuck.com (May 2021)
Medium to deep garnet-purple in color, the 2020 Prieure-Lichine offers up notes of fresh redcurrants, blackcurrant pastilles, boysenberries and dried Provence herbs, plus wafts of tobacco leaf and pencil shavings. Medium-bodied, the palate delivers a great intensity of pure black and red fruit flavors, framed by grainy tannins and a lively backbone, finishing long with a refreshing herbal lift. Drinking range: 2024 - 2040 Rating: 91-93 Lisa Perrotti-Brown, RobertParker.com (May 2021)
Plenty of juicy dripping autumnal fruit, cassis and blueberry with a crack of black pepper and a good lick of saline freshness on the finish that makes you want to take another sip. One of the clear successes, intense and concentrated with balanced tannins and acidity, if some bitter almond overtones. A yield of 32hl/ha. 40% new oak. Harvested right through to October 1st.Tasted twice. Drinking range: 2027 - 2040 Rating: 93 Jane Anson, Decanter (May 2021)
65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot, 40% new oak. Black core with purplish rim. Fragrant with the intense aromas of cassis and spicy black plum. A little sweeter-smelling than some but also dark and savoury, with subtle oak spice and char. Even a light floral note entwined with all that dark fruit. The oak is a little more obvious on the palate, as much in the smooth but thick tannins as in the flavour. Full in the mouth but nicely dry and fresh on the finish. Drinking range: 2030 - 2040 Rating: 17 Julia Harding MW, www.JancisRobinson.com (Apr 2021)
Château Prieuré Lichine
Margaux Quatrième cru 1855 As the name suggests, the early history of Prieuré-Lichine starts with the Benedictine monks of the Prieuré de Cantenac who assembled, by the 18th Century, quite a reputation for their wine. The Revolution put an end to ecclesiastical ownership, La Prieuré was seized and sold off with much of the vineyard becoming parts of other estates including Château Palmer. A with many Médoc estates, the first half of the 20th Century was a period of decline. By 1951 Château Prieuré-Cantenac was reduced to 11ha of rather sorry vines. Salvation came that year with the estate's purchase by wine writer Alexis Lichine. He renovated the chais and the château, and gradually increased vineyard holdings by buying spare vineyard land from other Margaux estates. Château Prieuré-Lichine is to the east of Cantenac. There are, now, around 70ha of vineyard, somewhat dispersed around the appellation, with 55% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot with a small balance of Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. The Grand Vin spends 16 months inn wood (55% new).
Please make sure that you have read the terms of this offer which are different from those on the main website. If you are unclear as to what is involved in primeur purchases please do contact our private client team via email or on 020 7018 0187.
Ordering
Prices are all in bond by the case size stated.
Pre-Orders are a firm commitment to buy wines on release, as long as the release price is within the upper and lower price bands set by you on the pre-order form. Pre-orders will be fulfilled subject to availability but providing this firm commitment to buy effectively gives you priority and is a good idea for the most desirable wines.
Wines listed on the website can be ordered in the usual way via the website wishlist order form. You can also send orders directly to our private client team via email. Please note that, for the most sought-after wines, priority will be given to those who ordered the same wines last year and to those that have pre-ordered.
Confirmation
All orders will be confirmed by email and are binding unless written cancellation is received within seven days of email confirmation. Pre-orders are not binding if the release price is above your upper price band.
Invoices are all raised at the in bond price (excluding any duty and VAT) which will become payable at the prevailing rates when the wines arrive in the UK, should you wish to take duty paid delivery.
Payment is required on sight of invoice, by cash, cheque, debit card or bank transfer. We regret we cannot accept credit cards for en primeur orders. We reserve the right to apply a dunning charge of 2% per month on invoices unpaid after 30 days.
Delivery
- Shipment to our bond (at LCB Creek Road) and insurance are included in the in bond price.
- Delivery is free to Lea and Sandeman / Elephant storage accounts, both duty paid and in bond.
- Other deliveries (In Bond and Duty Paid) are also free subject to a minimum order from the offer of £500. Orders below this total will be charged an administration and handling fee of £16.50+ VAT when invoices are issued. We will group deliveries and this is a charge for your entire purchases, not a per-case charge.
- Delivery of 2023 Bordeaux bought en primeur is expected during 2026. Delivery dates may vary as wines are shipped from Bordeaux at different times.
Practical notes - how it works
We start a sale in each customer's name and add all their primeur orders to one sale which is invoiced at the end of the campaign (or when the customer wishes). Immediate payment of invoices is then required by cash, cheque, debit card or bank transfer. We and our customers find that having a single invoice for the vintage is the simpler option but please note that confirmed orders are still binding even if the final invoice has not yet been issued.
Please specify on your wishlist order form where you would like the wines shipped on arrival in the UK. If this is to a third-party bonded warehouse, please specify the relevant account details. If the wines are required duty-paid we will issue a second invoice for duty and VAT at the prevailing rate when the wines are available for delivery.
Half-bottles, Magnums and larger bottles.
One of the additional advantages of buying en primeur is being able to order the wine in the format you want. While most of our listings are for 75cl bottles, we can source wines in any format that is offered by the Château. Please note that format requests cannot be changed once wines have been invoiced. Additional charges for special formats do apply and are as follows:-
- +£18.00 per case of 12 half-bottles
- +£30.00 per case of 24 half-bottles
- +£7.50 per case of 3 Magnums (2 bottles equivalent, 1.5 litres each)
- +£11.00 per case of 6 Magnums
- +£45.00 per individually boxed Double Magnum (4 bottles equivalent, 3 litres)
- +£60.00 per individually boxed Imperial (8 bottles equivalent, 6 litres) for Salmanazars, Balthazars, Nebuchadnezzars and Melchiors please enquire for availability and price.
Storage Options:
Wines bought en primeur won't arrive in the UK until 2026. If you do not wish to take home delivery at that point, you may wish to consider where you would like the wines shipped. Lea & Sandeman offers duty paid and in bond storage through a dedicated storage company called Elephant Storage. For more details on the terms and fees associated with storage please go to our Storage Homepage or contact our private client team for more information.