| Region | |
|---|---|
| Subregion | France > Bordeaux > Right Bank > Pomerol |
| Colour | Red |
| Type | Still |
One of the greatest wines of the vintage is, not surprisingly, from proprietor Denis Durantou. A remarkable effort in every sense, the 2006 l'Eglise Clinet is not far off the quality of the prodigious 2005. Its inky/ruby/purple color is accompanied by a powerful nose of mocha, caramelized red and black fruits, smoke, graphite, and truffle. Massive and rich with full-bodied power, excellent focus and definition, and moderately high tannin, this is an "outlier" for the vintage (as Malcolm Gladwell would say) with unbelievable length and richness. Unfortunately, patience will be essential as it needs a minimum of 5-6 years of cellaring. It will age effortlessly for three decades. Drink 2014-2044.
The 2006 Château L'Eglise-Clinet has a killer bouquet: intense black and red fruit, crushed rose petals, a touch of potters wheel and dried herbs. It possesses one of the classiest aromatics in the Pomerol appellation. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, dense dark berry fruit laced with black tea, dried herbs and a touch of juniper, gently building towards a lightly spiced, dense finish with impressive substance. This is a long-term Pomerol that needs another 3-4 years in bottle.
Balanced and harmonious for the vintage. Full-bodied, with a very good core of ripe fruit and velvety tannins. Excellent winemaking by the gifted Denis Durantou.
16,200 bottles produced. Picked the young vines 15 September and the older ones on the 18th. 90% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc. 70% new oak. 13.8-14%. The cooler August helped to retain freshness. According to Denis Durantou, it’s impossible to liken this vintage to another. ‘We like our 2006 but it is not like 2005 or any other vintage.’
Exceptionally dark crimson. Very fresh and toasty on the nose and then tight and a little dry but very correct. Fine and tense and very focussed. Lift and yet very concentrated - short focus. A very nervy racehorse of a wine.
Bright ruby-red. Knockout nose combines dark berries and black cherry, licorice pastille, truffle, tobacco and sexy oak spices. Lush and sweet but with superb freshness and underlying structure. The wine's combination of suavity, backbone and compelling mineral-driven perfume is why I often find it hard to take merlot seriously when it's not grown on the Pomerol plateau. Finishes silky and very long. This has turned out splendidly.
Potentially the wine of the vintage, proprietor Denis Durantou has fashioned a profound 2006 of great intensity and complexity. Its intense purple hue is accompanied by a glorious nose of melted red and black fruits, spring flowers, truffles, and spice. With massive concentration as well as intensity, but no hard edges, it is a tour de force in winemaking. Multilayered, with incredibly texture and purity as well as a finish that lasts over 60 seconds, this brilliant Pomerol should be accessible in 3-4 years, and last for three decades or more. Bravo!
Tasted at the château. Denis Durantou was open enough to forewarn me about the freshness of the sample that he poured for me. Indeed, it was lacking the vigour I expected; therefore two samples are assessed directly from barrel. The new barrel is dominated by new oak on the nose (quel surprise!) but the palate is beautifully poised, not dissimilar to Le Pin, with breathtaking definition and balletic precision. The one drawn from a one-year old barrel was even better, a slightly gamey nose with immense purity and vigour followed by a crisp, powerful palate with an intensity of fruit that you simple have to taste for yourself. A touch of black olives toward the finish. Not as showy or exuberant as the 2005, much more introverted but no less compelling and essential. Tasted April 2007.
Expressive, pure aromas of ripe black raspberry, coffee, licorice, chocolate, menthol and flowers. Densely packed and in need of air but not at all tough or dry. Wonderfully vibrant and juicy wine) what a pleasure to sample tight-grained, minerally merlot with real backbone. Finishes very long, with firm tannins and terrific lift.
