2016 Château Clos l’Église

Description

97   Jeb Dunnuck
“The 2016 Clos L’Eglise is a rock star wine that has everything: thrilling amounts of cassis and blackberry fruits, notes of lead pencil, tobacco, and damp earth, full-bodied richness and depth, sweet tannins, and a fabulous finish that leaves you looking for another sip. It shows the purity and classic style of the vintage to a T and is a brilliant, layered, opulent wine to drink over the coming two decades. This wine is a blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc, aged in new oak, and comes from the talents of Hélène Garcin & Patrice Lévêque. I’d be thrilled to have bottles of this in the cellar.” (2/2019)

95   James Suckling
“Lots of smoke, black olives and brown sugar to the ripe fruit on the nose. Full body, rich and chewy tannins and a spice, toffee, smoke and coffee finish. Not overdone. Needs at least five years to come together. Try after 2024.” (4/2019)

95   Antonio Galloni
“The 2016 Clos L’Eglise is endowed with tremendous density and lushness. Blackberry jam, chocolate, leather, spice and licorice give the 2016 much of its flamboyant, forward personality. Readers should expect a rich, explosive Pomerol built on textural resonance. The 2016 spent 18 months in French oak (300-500L barrels), 80% new. This is a terrific showing from Hélène Garcin and Patrice Lévêque.” (1/2019)

94   Lisa Perrotti-Brown for Wine Advocate
“Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2016 Clos ‘’Eglise (a blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc) rolls seductively out of the glass with notions of chocolate covered cherries, preserved plums and blueberry compote with hints of sautéed herbs, yeast extract, pain grillé, peppered salami and tilled soil. Full-bodied, concentrated and totally sensuous in the mouth, it has a wonderfully plush texture and just enough freshness supporting generous fruit layers, going to a long, savory sparked finish.” (3/2019)