La Petite Eglise, Pomerol, 2020

Name: La Petite Eglise, Pomerol
Brand: Château L'Eglise Clinet
Price: 266.74 GBP

Available Vintages

all 1996 2015 2016 2017 2019 2020 2021 2023 2024

justerini & brooks tasting note

This is the first vintage since the untimely death of the Denis Durantou. His daughters, Noémie and Constance have taken the reins, ably assisted by Denis’ long standing collaborator Olivier Gautrat. Noémie sums up the vintage as “Green buds in February, constant rain in spring, the aridity of summer and a mid-September harvest: wine of freshness and brightness, like a dense and colorful garden, vivacity, fruits and flowers in the rain.” Her first full vintage in charge has been a huge success. Petite Eglise is that rare discovery – a good value Pomerol from the plateau. It often sells out in a flash. Just 4500 bottles have been produced with a blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc. The Merlot was picked on the 9th and the 16th of September, and the Cabernet Franc was picked on the 16th of September. The nose reveals bright, floral, herbal infused fruit. Pure and seductive fruit fills the palate with good density and plenty of bright griotte and Kirsch; there’s impressive concentration and a solid structure, which will set this in good stead. Finishes with a seductive, long burst of hedgerow fruit and fine minerals.

critic reviews

91/100Neal Martin,Vinous

The 2020 La Petit Eglise has a high-toned, minty bouquet that needs a bit more complexity and personality. The palate is a step up, featuring fine tannins, well-judged acidity and citrus-fresh red fruit, with some vanillary oak that still needs to be subsumed on the finish. I think it will come good in the end. Very fine. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting.

DRINKING WINDOW 2027 - 2037

date of review 11/2024

91+/100William Kelley,Robert Parker Wine Advocate

The 2020 La Petite Eglise reveals aromas of sweet cherries and berries mingled with petals and loamy soil, followed by a medium to full-bodied, lively and concentrated palate that's rather firm and serious this year. It will reward patience. Only 4,500 bottles were produced from dedicated parcels.

DRINKING WINDOW 2027 - 2045

date of review 04/2023

93/100Lisa Perrotti-Brown,The Wine Independent

A blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc, the 2020 La Petite Eglise is deep garnet-purple in color. It requires a lot of coaxing to unlock notions of baked plums, blackberry compote, and fruitcake, followed by hints of cardamom, black olives, and crushed rocks. The medium to full-bodied palate is densely laden with earth-laced black fruits, supported by firm, rugged tannins and just enough freshness, finishing long and earthy.

DRINKING WINDOW 2025 - 2047

date of review 03/2023

94/100Jane Anson,Inside Bordeaux

This is powerful and complex, fleshy damson and black cherry fruits, austere in all the right places, with amazing depth, better than many first wines in Pomerol and is an absolute buy. Jagged edges of crushed rocks, star-bright, luscious as it opens, unleashing waves of violet and peony. A shame just to taste this wine, hopefully you will be luckier and can enjoy a whole bottle. 50% new oak, harvest September 9 to 16. Noemie Durantou winemaker alongside Olivier Gautrat.

DRINKING WINDOW 2024 - 2038

date of review 02/2023