| Region | |
|---|---|
| Subregion | France > Bordeaux > Right Bank > Pomerol |
| Colour | Red |
| Type | Still |
A brilliant effort (one of the vintage’s most substantial wines), proprietor Denis Durantou has turned in a tour de force in 2001. Sadly, there are only 1,500 cases of this 85% Merlot / 15% Cabernet Franc blend (from vines averaging 40 years of age). This beauty boasts a dense ruby/purple color as well as a glorious nose of red and black fruits, flowers, sweet oak, and hints of licorice as well as truffles. Opulent, medium to full-bodied, concentrated, tannic, and persistent on the palate (the finish lasts 40 seconds), give it 2-4 years of cellaring, and drink it between 2007-2020.
The Château l'Eglise-Clinet 2001, which was served from magnum, is a worthy follow-up to the millennial release and might be unfairly overshadowed by it. The 2001 has a slightly lighter and more feminine bouquet, but it delivers the same level of beguiling delineation and crystalline raspberry and cranberry fruit. This has a Burgundy-like purity, very harmonious in the mouth with very fine acidity. There is a sense of harmony interwoven into this Pomerol—a gentle build towards the lightly spiced, truffle-tinged finish that will put a smile on any wine-lover's face. One of the prettiest wines under Denis Durantou's reign, it might not have the prowess of the 2000, but it has plenty of class. Tasted March 2015. Drink 2017-2035.
Superb. Licorice and plum character, with mineral and violet. Full-bodied and racy, with super, polished tannins and a long, long finish. A beauty. Love it. This is as great as the 2000.
Healthy crimson. Meaty, savoury, dense and taut and sinewy. Sleek and with real potential. Long and muscular. Great persistence.
Tasted at the château, this has another breathtaking nose in terms of purity and lift, here with perhaps more minerality and definition than the 2000. It exhibits more femininity and maybe a notch less vigour than the 2000? Black cherries, raspberry and blueberry - there is a real exuberance here that is not a million miles away from Ausone.) The palate is full-bodied with very fine tannins, still a little unresolved oak to be subsumed, very concentrated and a little more viscous than the 2000. Lovely definition on the finish, that note of bay leaf coming back right on the finish with a hint of white pepper. One for the cellar
