2008 Ch L'Eglise-Clinet Pomerol

Tasting Notes

Goedhuis, May 2009, Score: 91-94

Dense, chewy and powerful, this is one of the most full-throttle Pomerols from 2008 (watch out Pétrus). Its backward palate offers a cornucopia of ripe black cherry, cassis, wild bramble fruit and underlying minerality that adds further precision and purity. This will require a bit of cellaring to coax its ripe fruit core to the surface.

Robert Parker, April 2009, Score: 94-96+

So many great wines have emerged from this property administered with meticulous care and obvious passion by proprietor Denis Durantou that it hard to say the 2008 is better than some of the previous wines produced over the last decade. It is more backward and less evolved than some of the other Pomerols in this vintage, but the wine boasts an inky/ruby/purple color as well as an exceptionally pure bouquet of creme de cassis, black raspberry liqueur, charcoal, and a hint of black truffles. Dense and pure with massive concentration yet undeniable elegance and precision (because of the fresh acids), this full-bodied effort, despite the high level of Merlot in the blend, requires 7-10 years of patience. It should evolve for 30-40 years after bottling, and will be fascinating to compare with some of the legends produced here over the last ten years.

Robert Parker, May 2011, Score: 95

A remarkable wine in this vintage, L™Eglise Clinet™s 2008 has a color almost as dark as the barrel sample of 2010. Classic mocha and caramel-infused creme de cassis and black cherry notes, with hints of licorice and loamy soil soar from the glass of this opaque ruby/purple, aromatically compelling wine. Opulent, expansive, and savory, with a broad texture, a full-bodied mouthfeel, terrific purity and a layered finish, this is another big, massive wine that transcends the vintage character, and will probably need 7-10 years of bottle age. It should keep for 20 or more years as well. Drink: 2011 - 2031

Jancis Robinson, April 2009, Score: 17.5

Mid crimson. Scented and rich on the nose. Very broad and mouthfilling - quite complex. Much more than just sweet. An interesting wine - quite different from most Pomerols. Lots of lift and attack - not at all playing the sweetness card. Very appetising. Intriguing - even quite intellectual. Explosive with a savoury finish. Smooth and sleek and complete. Good wine! No holes. Lots of energy.

Wine Spectator, April 2009, Score: 91-94

Offers concentrated aromas of cassis and black licorice. Full-bodied, with silky tannins and lots of fruit and mineral undertones. A very pretty, polished wine. So beautiful already.

Pomerol

The small sub-region of Pomerol is situated northeast of the industrious city of Libourne. Its soils are predominately iron-rich clay with a smattering of gravel that produce wines with extraordinary power and depth. As a result of this clay-dominance, it has the highest percentage of Merlot planted in all of Bordeaux. Certain châteaux are produced exclusively from this grape, but most incorporate smaller quantities of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc as well. Despite its hefty (if not exclusive) proportion of Merlot, many people think of wines from this region as separate entities. As one wine aficionado stated recently, "It's not Merlot. It's Pomerol." Despite the region's small size, it contains some of the world's most sought after (and expensive) wines including Pétrus, Le Pin, Lafleur, l'Evangile and Vieux Château Certan. Unlike other Bordelais subregions, there is no system of classification. The châteaux are traded on reputation alone.

Château l'Eglise-Clinet

Tasting with Dénis Durantou is always a visual feast. Not only do we get to savour a range of great wines, but we also normally get to view one of the Right Bank's most striking art collections, painted by Dénis' wife. But sadly they were on loan to an exhibition. The most famous of the Pomerol "Clinets", L'Eglise Clinet has been run by Dénis since 1983 whose brilliant winemaking has catapulted this château skywards.

Merlot / Cabernet Franc

This blend is favoured by many of the stars of the Right Bank in Bordeaux - Le Pin, Ausone and La Conseillante to name but a few. A potentially outstanding combination of Merlot's rich, ripe texture and soft plummy fruit with Cabernet Franc's firm tannins and crisp red fruit flavours.