Producer Profile
Area under vines: 5,5 hectares
Soils: gravel, clay, sand and iron
Average age of the vines: 45 years
Ageing: in 60% new oak for 18 months
Grape varieties:
- Merlot 80%
- Cabernet Franc 20%
Learn more about Chateau L’eglise Clinet here
Tasting Notes
Vinous 99
The 2005 L’Eglise-Clinet soars out of the glass with captivating aromatics. Inky dark fruit, graphite, lavender, licorice, rose petal and spice captive the senses. In the glass, the 2005 is outrageously beautiful, with layers of inky dark fruit that continue to open, seemingly with no end. Floral notes and redder tonalities of fruit develop with time in the glass. L’Eglise-Clinet is another wine in this tasting that just got better and better with time. It is an epic Pomerol that evokes so many memories of tasting at the chateau with late proprietor Denis Durantou. Well-stored bottles will prove to be nearly immortal. [Antonio Galloni, 15/04/2021]
Anticipated maturity: 2025-2055
Robert Parker 99
The Chateau l’Eglise-Clinet 2005 was served from bottle and from magnum (both ex-cellar). It has a magnificent nose with bewitching delineation: darker fruit than either the 2003 or 2004, blackberry, raspberry, hints of black tea and black truffle. The palate is medium-bodied with brilliant focus, still quite backward as so many grandees of this vintage remain, albeit beginning to soften towards the licorice-tinged finish. This is a benchmark for both Denis Durantou and this Pomerol estate, although I can see it testing wine-lovers’ patience. Tasted March 2015. [Neal Martin, 28/09/2017]
Anticipated maturity: 2020-2050
JancisRobinson.com 17
Tasted blind. Bright crimson. Some ripe rose perfume on the nose. Big and sweet, if a bit brutal on the palate. Very concentrated. No delicate touch in the cellar! Pretty dramatic. [23/02/2017]
Anticipated maturity: 2016-2030