Château L'Eglise Clinet, Pomerol, 2022

The grand vin from Noëmie Durantou, this is 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, as always. The élevage was in 85% new oak. There is a gloriously confident fragrance to the nose, with polished berry fruits, griottes and red cherry, very pure, but there are also notes of dark chocolate, dried sage, wild hawthorn, floral violets, roses and black pepper. Supple and deceptively straight at the start, hiding its light under a bushel at first, but in the midpalate it broadens out to reveal spiced cherry fruits, dark chocolate, sage, violets and peonies, with that peppery spice hinted at on the nose. The tannins are rather hidden by the wine’s confident and sinewy texture, flanking the middle of the wine but never obtrusive, with a more tightly knit and peppery grip through to the finish. A great L’Église-Clinet here, reflecting the concentration of the vintage, but holding on to a floral and fresh character. A stunner, and perhaps one of the best vintages of Église-Clinet I have tasted, a great wine but also classically Pomerol, on the mineral side, and most importantly undeniable evidence of Noëmie Durantou’s capabilities. This will be a superb addition to any Pomerol lover’s cellar. The alcohol is 14.6% on analysis.

DRINKING WINDOW 2029 - 2059

date of review 06/2025

This is a wine that needs time in the bottle and in the glass, serious and well built, with body and character, and merits extra ageing. The texture brings us into the heart of Pomerol, or rather its heights, with luscious but reserved quality and the intellectual edge of L'Eglise Clinet. Crushed roses and violets set against dark cassis and blueberry fruits, just brilliant. Harvest September 3 to 9 harvest. 85% new oak, harvest September 3 to 9. Noemie Durantou and Olivier Gautrat.

DRINKING WINDOW 2029 - 2044

date of review 03/2025

Nöemie Durantou remarked that this vintage is the best she had ever known with respect to the Merlot, and given that the 2022 L'Eglise-Clinet contains 90% Merlot, that pre-empted a fabulous Pomerol. Durantou also mentioned that her wines were a little more "shy" compared to the previous day, though the bouquet only needed four or five minutes' coaxing before it unfolded with wonderfully delineated, focused scents of black cherries, peony, blood orange and crushed stone. Exquisitely balanced, the palate has a cashmere texture thanks to the pliant tannins, gaining density all the time. The finish is powerful and very sustained, disguising the 14.6% alcohol extremely well thanks to its countervailing acidic spine, though you feel a dab on the aftertaste. The 2022 is a L'Eglise-Clinet built for the long-term and continues the estate's stunning run of form.

DRINKING WINDOW 2032 - 2075

date of review 02/2025