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Lea & Sandeman Wine Merchants

CHÂTEAU L'ÉGLISE CLINET

2013 Pomerol

Grapes Cab Franc, Merlot
Colour Red
Origin France, Bordeaux
Sub-district Pomerol & Lalande de Pomerol
Village Pomerol
ABV 13.5%

Denis Durantou, always interesting to listen to, was keen to say that this year it was the good weather in July which made the wine ('Juillet à fait le moût'). 'Ripe grapes can be acid too. It's no use waiting for them not to be'. July was the hottest for 15 years, so by September the grapes were ripe even if they were acid, the tannins were ripe even though the acidity was high. This year Denis' wines were naturally 13-13.5%. While other were waiting, looking for the sweetness and low acid of some recent vintages, he was happy to make wines with this balance. And it works for him! More serious depth and richness than the Petite Église, more structure too, but there's a good deep black fruit and spice and savour too. A touch of dark chocolate, and then the acidity on the finish lifts it all, mouthwatering, hard not to swallow. A lovely balance. Denis goes on to say 'astringency should be part of the culture of wine, sugar and sweetness is vulgar and not sophisticated'. Rating: 93 L&S (Apr 2014)


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The 2013 L'Eglise-Clinet has a clean and precise bouquet with black fruit, sous-bois, shavings of black truffle and hints of morels. The palate is medium-bodied with firm tannins on the entry, red fruit laced with mocha and delicate acidity with a harmonious, if simplistic (for this estate) finish. Fine. Drinking range: 2023 - 2034 Rating: 90 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (Aug 2023)

Unquestionably one of the better wines of the vintage, with grip and grace. Not the depth and complexity of a normal L'Eglise Clinet, but there is a slow progression through the palate, and a clear indication of careful extraction of actual fruit. Blackberry and raspberry dominate, autumnal and gentle, enjoyable and there is pleasure to be found. No need to wait, but no rush to drink. Denis Durantou was no doubt up for the challenge of this year, obsessively checking his vines to see what he could do to revive them, and I have a wonderful memory of tasting this with him and Michel Rolland in Pomerol, and being struck by how much it revealed of his talents. Drinking range: 2023 - 2036 Rating: 94 Jane Anson, Decanter (Feb 2023)

The 2013 l’Eglise-Clinet was picked 25 September to 2 October for the Merlot and 6 October for the Cabernet Franc, then matured in 80% new oak. It has a hard time following the 2014 and 2015 in terms of fruit concentration as you would expect. This feels more evolved with woodland/autumn leaf aromas complemented by field mushroom and tertiary scents that occlude fruit expression. The palate is medium-bodied with rather dry tannins, dark berry fruit tinged with cedar and tobacco notes. It is actually an enjoyable Pomerol with fine acidity and freshness on the finish, although as you would expect, it does not belong with the pantheon of great Pomerols. Tasted at the l’Eglise-Clinet vertical at the château in April 2018. Drinking range: 2019 - 2030 Rating: 89 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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