2017 Château l’Eglise-Clinet

Description

98   James Suckling
“Extremely enticing aromas of blackberries, brambleberries, sweet tobacco, bark and mushrooms follow through to a medium to full body that grows on the palate and crescendoes to medium, round tannins, juicy fruit and a long, flavorful finish. Rolls along the palate. Excellent, persistent finish. Try after 2024, but already a joyous glass.” (1/2020)

98   Lisa Perrotti-Brown
“Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, the 2017 L’Eglise Clinet begins a little closed and broody, soon unfurling to reveal powerful notes of baked black plums, chocolate-covered cherries and blueberry preserves with hints of chargrill, mocha and aniseed plus a touch of tar. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is a powerhouse of crunchy, vibrant black fruit, framed by wonderfully ripe, rounded tannins and oodles of freshness, finishing long and savory. Bravo!” (3/2020)

97   Antonio Galloni for Vinous
“The 2017 L’Eglise-Clinet is dark, sensual and wonderfully rich. It opens with a silky, captivating bouquet laced with the essence of dried flowers, mocha, chocolate, spice and blackberry jam. While L’Eglise-Clinet is light on its feet for such a big, imposing wine, the 2017 is going to need a number of years to come into its own. Even in the early going, though, it is super-impressive. Revisiting it with a bit of air reveals a Pomerol of soaring intensity and explosive energy and vivid, striking beauty. I loved it.” (3/2020)

95   Jane Anson
“For me, this is one of the successes of the vintage in Pomerol, although not fully escaping the roadblocks of 2017. There is a real sense of precision and elegance here, with floral, violet aromatics and a note of liquorice, and it deals its power in a measured way, one hand at a time – it’s a wine to sit with and enjoy. There was no frost at this estate. The Merlot was picked between 12-22 September, and the Cabernet Franc on 22 September. The 70% new oak is a touch present on the close of play, but those tannins are pliable and enjoyable, promising to cradle the fruit for the long haul.” (4/2018)

95   Neal Martin
“The 2017 L’Eglise-Clinet was picked from 12 to 22 September for the Merlot and on 22 September for the Cabernet Franc. Denis Durantou told me that it is matured in 70% new oak. This has a stunning, mineral-driven bouquet with tightly packed blackcurrant and raspberry fruit, and hints of black truffle that emerge with time. The palate has a satin-like texture on the entry with a fine bead of acidity. This defies the growing season in terms of its concentration with layers of black fruit on the saline finish. It does not quite have the length of the 2018 – but it will give 30 years of drinking pleasure.” (02/2020)