Nestled in Bordeaux’s gorgeous Margaux area, Château Prieuré-Lichine is a site where passion and history come together to produce wines that honour the legacy of ages past while captivating the senses. Once a modest monastic vineyard, this magnificent estate has infused each of its vines with stories of devotion, change, and victory.
The rich, undulating hills of Margaux provided refuge to a group of Benedictine monks in the middle of the 12th century. With wildflowers and the occasional whiff of the nearby Garonne River, the air looked fortunate to be ideal for wine growth. The monks founded a modest priory called Prieuré de Cantenac because they were committed to their faith and their craft. They tended to the vines with patience, and soon the small vineyard was thriving.
The vineyard was maintained under monastery care for generations. The quality of the wines produced there was highly prized, but so was the sense of peace that seemed to permeate every glass. But when the neighbourhood around the abbey evolved, the vineyard was acquired by wealthy people and developed into a more upscale property that would eventually come to characterise Bordeaux’s winemaking history.
Although Château Prieuré-Lichine had achieved fame by the 20th century, it had also survived periods of neglect. An unusual hero emerged in 1951 in the form of Russian-American wine trader and author Alexis Lichine, dubbed the “Pope of Wine.”
Lichine purchased the château and began renovating it because of his unwavering love for Bordeaux wines and his goal for making the estate a magnificent one.
Under Lichine’s guidance, the vines, which were once old and worn out, were given new life. He put forth endless effort to revitalise the land because he believed in the power of terroir—that enchanted fusion of soil, climate, and tradition. Modern methods were introduced as a result of his inventiveness, yet he took care to maintain the estate’s rich heritage. The wines produced by Château Prieuré-Lichine were praised for their elegance and complexity, which perfectly captured Margaux’s essence, and the winery itself became a symbol of regeneration to the globe.
Even after Lichine’s death in 1989, the château’s history persisted. Each each owner and winemaker added their own chapter to the estate’s lengthy history, ensuring that his legacy endured. Resilience, harmony, and a commitment to quality are all demonstrated by the contemporary Château Prieuré-Lichine. With rows of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Franc dancing beneath the Bordeaux sun, the vineyard sprawls out in all directions, surrounded by well-kept gardens and old trees.
The wines of Château Prieuré-Lichine, a beautiful symphony of rich fruit, spices, and the unmistakable character of Margaux, are now enjoyed all over the world. The narrative of the monks who planted the first vines, the visionaries who made the estate great, and the land that has always been at the centre of it all comes to life.
A voyage through history, terroir, and the fervent spirit of everyone who has contributed to the current state of Château Prieuré-Lichine starts the moment the cork is pulled.
The wines
1990 Chateau Prieur Lichine
The 1990 Margaux Chateau Prieure-Lichine opens with a captivating fragrance of earthy undertones, tobacco leaf, and cedar, entwined with dried blackcurrants, ripe plums, and subtle violet floral notes. With velvety tannins and a persistent core of dark fruit, together with savoury notes of leather, graphite, and faint spice, it exhibits a superbly balanced structure on the palate. With a smooth finish that lingers and leaves a hint of sweet herbs and mineral freshness, the wine displays the finesse characteristic of Margaux. Even though this vintage is nearing its prime, it can still develop subtly in the glass. 91 corked Points
