| Region | |
|---|---|
| Subregion | France > Bordeaux > Right Bank > Pomerol |
| Colour | Red |
| Type | Still |
The violets, roses and dark fruits are so evident but they entice you in a subtle and fresh way. Full-bodied, dense and tannic, yet everything is so in tune with everything else and there are no hard edges or loose ends. It’s like a whirlpool that draws you down and then shows you its beauty. The harmony and complexity is phenomenal. Try in 2024 but I don’t want to wait.
In 2015 L’Eglise-Clinet was a blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc and is deep garnet-purple in color. It needs a lot of swirling to unlock notes of warm black cherries, preserved plums, and blueberry compote, plus suggestions of tar, unsmoked cigars, and fertile loam. The full-bodied palate bursts with bold, ripe black fruits and loads of exotic spice sparks, framed by velvety tannins and tons of freshness, finishing on a lingering ferrous note.
Tasted blind. Muted but well-behaved nose. Black-cherry flavours but not overripe. Slightly charred but well intentioned.
Drink 2024-2040
The nose has a complex mix of flavours the palate the richness of ripe black plum and the firmness of black cherry. Soft velvety and supple in the middle the ripe fruit gives fleshy richness with the power and depth of fruit at the back balanced by underlying bilberry freshness the finish has length and elegance. 2025-40
The clay-based soils gave this wine a remarkable density and concentration in 2015. It’s a smooth, opulent wine with dense tannins, plenty of supporting oak and layer upon layer of fruit underscored by a minerally freshness. Lovely, ageworthy Pomerol. Drink: 2022-35
Denis Durantou served two samples of this wine – one freshly drawn and the other four days old. He explained tha they both show different aspects of his wine and he is absolutely right. 1: Immense power and dynamism with stunning perfume and drying tannins bookending a dense, briary core. 2: More concentration on the mid-palate showing depth and profound, earthy bass notes. Combining both samples together, this is a massive wine with muscle, regal tannins and the finish is immense.
The 2015 L'Eglise-Clinet is a blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, picked between 21-25 September at 41 hl/ha and matured in 70% new oak. Denis Durantou poured two samples for me. First from Darnajou barrel. Here, a very composed, effortless bouquet with extremely pure raspberry coulis, strawberry, almost confit-like scents that display ethereal delineation. This is not a powerful or intense bouquet, rather one that is sophisticated and refined, bunches of violet emerging with time. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy red berry fruit, crisp acidity, mineral-rich and tensile. There is tangible energy and refinement on the finish that lingers long and tenderly in the mouth, a wine constantly having something more to say. The second came from Demptos barrel. This was deeper on the nose, showing a touch more fruit, slightly higher toned. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, structured in the mouth, perhaps the barrel impressing its character more on the wine than the Darnajou. Together, they should combine to create a quite magical 2015 L'Eglise-Clinet. Drink 2022-2045.
Lively and energized. Full body, intense and dense tannins. Great wine. Goes on for minutes. Such focus and clarity.
Composed of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, the 2015 L'Eglise Clinet comes bursting out of the glass with a gorgeous perfume of exotic spices and potpourri over a core of blueberry compote, red currant jelly, spiced black plums and mulberries with touches of unsmoked cigars, powdered cinnamon and licorice. Big, rich and full-bodied, the palate offers exquisite harmony, packed with exotic spice and red and black fruit layers, finishing on an epically long-lasting mineral note. In an understated word: WOW.
Quite soft. Perfumed - floral and possibly violet. Easy and friendly. Quite gentle tannins. Very sweet and round. 14.6% alcohol is not evident. An unexpectedly mild, well-mannered wine. Undramatic. Looks almost modest at this point.
Drink 2023-2035
