Lea & Sandeman Wine Merchants

CHÂTEAU L'ÉGLISE CLINET

2012 Pomerol

Grapes Merlot, Cab Franc
Colour Red
Origin France, Bordeaux
District Right Bank
Sub-district Pomerol & Lalande de Pomerol
Village Pomerol
ABV 14%

Very dense, rich nose. Oaky, but - a sweetness of Cabernet Franc, perfectly ripe, a sweetness of Merlot. An intense, freshly-baked, patisserie concentration of ripe blackberry, cherry pie. Lively and pure and long. Gorgeous. It is as once a real 'bomb' but all in finesse. Such power but such elegance. Rating: 95 L&S (Apr 2013)


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The 2012 l'Eglise-Clinet has a hedonistic nose with plush red fruit, blueberry, white pepper and clove, more liquorice scents emerging with time. A second bottle at Bordeaux Index's tasting demonstrates a little more refinement. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, fine acidity, very harmonious with a slightly granular texture. Brown spices, a touch of leather, quite structured on the finish, yet this feels mature. Drink now, but it has the substance to keep for a number of years. Tasted blind at the Southwold Ten-Year On tasting. Drinking range: 2022 - 2040 Rating: 94 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (Sept 2022)

The carefully-crafted precision of the fruits is clear right from the first nose. A serious, subdued L'Eglise Clinet at 10 years old, putting a marker down in terms of carefully-crafted fruits and fine-boned tannins. Enjoyable, tertiary notes of truffles and earth are just beginning to surface. 80% new oak. Rating: 96 Jane Anson, www.janeanson.com (Mar 2022)

The 2012 l’Eglise-Clinet was picked 21 September to 4 October for the Merlot and on 6 October for the Cabernet Franc. This is one of my favorite recent vintages. It is so vivacious and well defined on the disarming nose with pretty red cherry and strawberry aromas, crushed stone, smoke and wilted rose petal. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, endowed with a sense of exuberance that the 2013 could only dream of. I admire the precision and tension interwoven through this l’Eglise-Clinet and the manner in which it fans out on the succulent finish. This is a Pomerol that just wants to go out and give pleasure. Tasted at the l’Eglise-Clinet vertical at the château in April 2018. Drinking range: 2020 - 2050 Rating: 95 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (Jul 2019)

Château L'Église Clinet

In a region of modest architecture, the high-spired church in Pomerol tends to dominate the sky-line. Gathered around it, a trio of estates trumpet their proximity with their name – Domaine de l’Eglise, Clos l’Eglise and Château l’Eglise Clinet. Infact, Clos l’Eglise Clinet and l’Eglise Clinet, separated only by a narrow lane, used to form a single estate until they were divided in inheritance in the latter half of the 19th Century. Initially, confusingly, called Clos de l’Eglise, the estate appended the lieu dit name and became Clos de l’Eglise Clinet, before finally settling on l’Eglise Clinet. The château, such as it is, is quite modest – the château proper being left with the Clos l’Eglise portion when the estate divided. The Château l’Eglise Clinet story really begins when Denis Durantou took over in 1983 and turned a traditional if unexciting property into one of Pomerol’s superstars. New equipment in a small new chai were installed and meticulous attention has been paid to the vineyard. There are 6ha of vines given over to 85% Merlot and 14% Cabernet Franc with the last 1% being a plot of very old Malbec vines. Following Denis' untimely death, his daughters Noémie and Constance are running the show- with the same passion. We love the wines here - and they continue to represent real class and real value from top to bottom. The Durantou family also own Château les Cruzelles in Lalande-de-Pomerol, Saintayme in Saint Emilion and Chateau Montlandrie in the Côtes de Castillon.

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