Clos l'Eglise 2018

The 2018 Clos l'Eglise is a blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc. Deep garnet-purple in color, it bounds from the glass with energetic scents of Morello cherries, fresh black plums, boysenberries and lavender, plus underlying nuances of crushed rocks, woodsmoke and black truffles. The full-bodied palate is packed with perfumed black fruit, supported by ripe, velvety tannins and plenty of freshness, finishing on a lingering, fragrant earth note.

Enticing, with macerated fig and plum notes forming the core while dark tea and savory notes course underneath. Hints of wet stone and charcoal echo at the very end. Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Drink now through 2032. 1,665 cases made.

This is elegant but serious with tannins and fruit that stay on the right side of savoury, and are not drying, despite the fairly evident austerity. There is plenty of cassis and smoky bitter chocolate in the glass with a floral character that comes out after a few moments. This will age but if you want earlier drinking from the Casteja stable, go for the excellent Croix de Casse. They kept extraction extremely gentle and fermentation to 26oC to ensure the tannins were not overpowering. A yield of 34hl/ha.

A round-textured and layered young Pomerol with berry, plum, chocolate and hazelnut aromas and flavors. It’s full-bodied, plush and luscious on so many levels. Try after 2026, when it tightens up.

The 2018 Clos L'Eglise is dense and powerful to the core. The tannins are equally forbidding, suggesting the 2018 is going to need a number of years to be at its best. Heat and mildew resulted in an unusually deep Clos L'Eglise. Dark cherry, plum, mocha, licorice, spice and gravel open with a bit of coaxing. Readers have to be patient here.

Dark in color, the wine pops right off the bat with an array of aromatics. Flowers, truffle, smoke, licorice, black cherry and raspberry liqueur consume your nose. On the palate, the wine is rich, seductive, sensuous and silky. Full-bodied, concentrated, opulent and velvety, everything here is in perfect proportion. The finish feels so good, it is impossible not to take another sip. This superb Pomerol will age effortlessly for 3 decades.

A pretty, elegant wine from this terroir, the 2018 Château Clos L'Eglise reveals a ruby/purple color as well as smoking good notes of black cherries, blueberries, white truffle, damp earth, and a little bit of iron and bloodiness that emerge with time in the glass. With medium to full-bodied richness on the palate, it has ripe tannins, a balanced texture, and just a ripe yet elegant, fleshy profile. Give bottles 4-5 years of bottle age and enjoy over the following 10-15 years.

Kunz Fassprobe 19: Fresh, powerful, finely mineral and complex bouquet, redcurrant jelly, strawberries, blackberries, cedar, pralines. Finely concentrated, multi-layered palate with a powerful, elegant structure, intense, sweet fruit, wide-ranging aromatics, plenty of fine tannin, and a very long, fresh finish with sweet echoes on the aftertaste.

Fresh, powerful, finely mineral and complex bouquet, redcurrant jelly, strawberries, blackberries, cedar, pralines. Finely concentrated, multi-layered palate with a powerful, elegant structure, intense sweet fruit, diverse aromatics, plenty of fine tannins, very long, fresh finish with sweet afterflavors. 19/20 2025 - 2045

Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2018 Clos L'Eglise comes bounding out of the glass with bold notes of plum preserves, wild blueberries, and boysenberries, giving way to compelling sandalwood, licorice, and potpourri scents with a touch of wild sage. Full-bodied, rich, concentrated, and oh so decadent, the palate has firm, rounded tannins and plenty of freshness, finishing very long and spicy.

Depth and subtlety in the bouquet of Clos l’Eglise 2018. Many elements are present and display a lovely harmony, with none overpowering the others. Inviting nuances of black berries and licorice. The attack is juicy and slightly suave, lending a pleasant sweetness. While silky, the tannins show a fine grain and have the substance needed to match the acidic structure. A wine that masterfully balances breadth, finesse, and pedigree.

Logo on the cork: DIAM30