Château L'Eglise Clinet, Pomerol, 2012
Denis Durantou describes 2012 as a 'true oceanic classic'. He is clearly delighted with the quality, but yields are down some 25%. When we tried to establish why yields were down, Denis simply said that there were fewer berries on the vines. Not the technical explanation we were expecting, but reality... Produced from 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet from the best clay and gravel terroirs at the estate, the 2012 Eglise Clinet has an altogether more profound and complex character to the Petite Eglise with complex mineral notes, dark plum liqueur, cigar leaf, graphite and high toned Morello cherries. This is so harmonious with Zen like poise and precision. Although this does not possess the same mass and sheer weight as the hugely impressive 2009 and 2010, this possesses graceful power with intense bitter sweet blood orange fruit, crème de mûre and a finish of shaved Valrhona chocolate and tobacco smoke. A sensational, gourmand wine.
critic reviews
A wine that wins my nomination for the title of "wine of the vintage" is the 2012 L'Eglise Clinet, a fleshy and enveloping Pomerol evocative of dark cherries and berries mingled with licorice, spices, pencil lead, truffle and rose petals. Full-bodied, broad and textural, it's lavish and expansive, with terrific depth at the core, supple tannins and a long, resonant finish. Seamless, charming and impeccably balanced, this transcends the vintage, and while it's deceptively drinkable now, it remains a mere adolescent at age 11.
The 2012 L'Eglise-Clinet is medium to deep garnet colored. It prances out with showy, gregarious notes of candied violets, kirsch, and black cherry compote, followed by plum preserves, Ceylon tea, charcoal, and cinnamon toast. The full-bodied palate has gorgeous, open-knit, perfumed layers, with super-plush tannins and lovely freshness, finishing long and perfumed.
The 2012 l'Eglise-Clinet is well-defined on the nose: blackberry, cassis, touches of wild mint and violet. This is very Margaux-like. The palate is medium-bodied with saturated tannins, fleshy and ripe, good density and concentration. One of the most flamboyant 2012s in the line-up, this has so much purity on the finish. Gorgeous. Tasted blind at the Southwold Ten-Year On tasting.
The carefully-crafted precision of the fruits is clear right from the first nose. A serious, subdued L'Eglise Clinet at 10 years old, putting a marker down in terms of carefully-crafted fruits and fine-boned tannins. Enjoyable, tertiary notes of truffles and earth are just beginning to surface. 80% new oak.