Clos l'Eglise 2000

Seven years ago I said this was a monumental wine, and at two different recent tastings, it was a true star of the vintage. Its stunning dark plum color offers up notes of caramelized red and black fruits, toffee, smoke, Asian plum sauce, sweet cherries, chocolate, and espresso. Its spectacular aromatics do not disappoint on the palate, as this multi-dimensional, highly complex, opulent wine seems to have hit a magical point in its evolution. Full-bodied, and concentrated, there is no issue with drinking this dazzling effort now, but those who own it can certainly cellar it for another 15 or more years. Bravo!

Rich and earthy, with berry, game and cherry aromas. Full-bodied, with soft tannins and a long, opulent fruity, vanilla aftertaste. Very well-done. Best after 2006. 4,165 cases made.

This is a ripe and intense red with layered, intense notes of chocolate and dried tomatoes. Full-bodied, layered and spicy, with cloves and dried thyme. Very flavorful.

Red-ruby. Exotic, highly aromatic nose combines coffee, spices and roasted meats. Sweet, lush and suave, with penetrating flavors of cherry, chocolate and game; at once vinous and thick, with an almost Burgundian texture. Very sexy wine, finishing suave and persistent.

Full of plums, chocolate, espresso, flowers, black cherries, and plums on the nose, and on the concentrated palate, the wine is soft, lush, ripe, round, and ready to deliver its pleasures. Drink from 2025–2035.

In the same league as the 1998, 2009, 2010, and 2016, the 2000 Clos L'Eglise reveals a healthy ruby/plum hue as well as mature notes of dried red and black fruits, tobacco, mint, and leafy herbs, with a touch of chocolate and spice emerging with time in the glass. The wine is full-bodied, concentrated, and seamless on the palate, with incredible purity and elegance as well as length. It's a Pomerol that has it all: incredible complexity and nuance, full-bodied richness and depth, and an inherent sense of elegance and purity. As with the 1998, it's fully mature yet is certainly going to hold for another decade. There's no need to delay gratification, however.

Dense ruby-garnet. Gorgeous cherry and raspberry bouquet, supported by ripe, sweet fruit, with gentle jammy notes of roasted raspberries. On the palate, astonishingly intense, again lots of ripe berry tones, red elderberry and amarena cherries; firmly built, with a long, Burgundy-like finish. Medium ageing potential, can still improve.

01: Dark, deep garnet-purple. Intense bouquet of caramel and amarena cherries, gingerbread, Darjeeling tea; both noble and sweet. Creamy and juicy on the palate, with a well-knit red currant note, fruit tea, stewed forest berries; the finish shows dried fruits and rum aromas, plus dark caramel. Not overly heavy, more focused on elegance, yet endowed with lavish aromatics. 18/20 2006 – 2016

Spicy, fragrant bouquet with leather, tobacco and blackcurrant. Balanced, refined palate with good aromatics, fine-grained tannins and a silky texture. Long, full finish. 17/20 drink - 2014

The 2000 Clos L'Eglise is deep garnet in color with a touch of brick. It leaps with bold kirsch and black cherry preserves scents with touches of rose oil, espresso, and charcoal with a hint of unsmoked cigars. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is coated with generous red and black fruit preserves, supported by firm yet plush tannins and a lively backbone, finishing long.

This lovely Pomerol combines rich fruit with flattering oak. The ageing struggles to integrate into this impressively dense wine, but one that lacks finesse.

Logo on the capsule: The crown Dark, intense, beautiful colour. Very aromatic nose, fine, toasted, powerful, complex, truffled. Superb, juicy and caressing entry on the palate, where the wine unfolds with savoury depth, melting with great grace. It finishes very powerful, spicy and sappy, with fine tannins. Delicious now.