Prieure Lichine 2013: Resilience and Subtlety in a Challenging Margaux Vintage

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Deep ruby with a tight rim, still youthful for the vintage. The nose is broad and refined, offering raspberry, cherry, red plum, coffee, black truffle, earth, and wood spice. The palate starts firm, then opens to riper fruit and polished tannins. Alcohol: 13% ABV. Blend: 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot—adding complexity to the wine’s design. The structure and length are impressive for a vintage often criticised for dilution. While some may find it has less power than top Margaux, its subtlety and elegance define its character in a challenging year.

Scores are not bad:

• Wine Enthusiast (Mar 2016) – 90 points: Firm and complex, with ripe fruit and well-structured tannins. A strong effort in a difficult year—should age gracefully.

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• Neal Martin, The Wine Advocate (Oct 2016) – 88 points: Restrained and classic, showing red and black fruits, floral notes, and subtle oak. Brighter acidity lends freshness and structure. Elegant mid-palate, persistent finish. Drink over the next 12+ years.

Of course, these scores reflect tastings from a decade ago. While NM88 and WE90 provide useful benchmarks, they should be interpreted with care—especially in a vintage like 2013, where fruit intensity is naturally more restrained. Over time, the style and structure remain, but the fruit may soften further, so expectations should be set accordingly. We accord 91 points.

Taken together, both critics highlight the wine’s consistency and improvement over 2011, even if it falls short of Margaux’s most illustrious names. Yet in the face of a challenging year, Prieure Lichine 2013 rises beyond expectation—not with sheer power, but with quiet confidence and layered complexity. For those willing to look past the vintage's headlines, this wine offers a rare glimpse into Margaux's resilience, rewarding patience and discernment with every glass. It is not merely a survivor of its season, but a voice for the subtleties that define true greatness.