La Petite Eglise, Pomerol, 2023
"The finesse and architecture of the 2019 with the fruit and flesh of 2018" is how Noémie Durantou explains 2023. This was our first appointment of the week and it certainly raised our expectations. The entire range is exceptional. Petite Eglise 2023 is expressive and open knit, aromatically very charming with notes of cacao nib and flowers, turmeric and Goji berry, there's lots of intensity to the mid-palate with gravelly cassis, pure berries, and some briary, saline notes too. This is a very charming and velvety Petite Eglise with an easy charm and balance and lots of detail on the finish. Impressive.
critic reviews
The squid ink character which for me is a sign of both texture and flavour comes in strongly on the opening, and this flexes its stretched out tannins with confidence. Floral aromatics on the opening, fleshy raspberry fruit, ideally you give this three or four years before drinking, but it is already just so enticing that it will be hard to wait. Run don't walk, as they say. 82% new oak for ageing. Grapes drawn from the two plots near the church in the main L'Eglise Clinet vineyard, this is the last year before the new (massal selection) vines from the replanted section are included in 2024 vintage. One point upscore.
The 2023 La Petite Église has a fragrant bouquet with mainly red berry fruit, wild hedgerow and a light marine scent, understated yet well defined. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins. Impressive harmony and silky texture, a fine bead of acidity, you instantly fall for the purity of fruit in the Deuxième Vin from Noëmie Durantou. It fans out stylishly on the finish, completing a very able La Petite Église.
A blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, La Petite Eglise 2023 has a deep garnet-purple color. It pops from the glass with scents of juicy black plums, fresh mulberries, and Morello cherries, leading to fragrant suggestions of violets and charcoal, with a touch of black truffles. The medium-bodied palate is light on its feet, with bright berry layers and a firm, fine-grained texture, finishing earthy.