L'Eglise Clinet 2001

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.

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

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.