Château L'Eglise Clinet 2023

Goosebumps guaranteed, a nose you can dive into—floral, stony, dark-fruited, majestic; a fleshy palate, generous fruit, firm tannins in counterpoint, immensely energetic, full of tension, powerful, with a long, lingering finish. A monumental L'Église Clinet, built for a small eternity.

Crafted from deep-rooted vines in both clay and clayey gravel, this estate succeeds like no other in expressing power from this appellation but without any hard or drying tannins, which one can encounter in 2023 from other estates. Cool and confident menthol, bright tangy red berry and blueberry fruit aromas introduce an almost Pauillac-like palate whose tannic grip is happily balanced by blood-red-orange-like freshness. Aged in 82% new oak, this wine was made from grapes picked before the September rains: the tannins show no rawness, but rather pristine ripeness. I love the linear focus wrapped in subtle succulence, ending with a long finish. Give it every chance to improve in your cellar, not before 2033, when it will fully reward your patience.

Everything you could ever want in a great Pomerol is here in abundance. From start to finish, this is exceptional! The showy perfume begins with a floral note before revealing its red fruit, along with black pit fruit, truffles, dark chocolate, and a touch of espresso. The stunning palate seals the deal, offering opulence, vibrancy, concentration, purity of fruit, and a sensual, velvety finish that, once it starts, doesn't want to stop! Made from a blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, it's fantastic to see continued excellence from the Durantou family. Drink from 2029-2060.

An opulence of flavours and aromatics, knitted down and ready to go the distance, expect waves of squid ink, crayon and slate, alongside iris, peony, fragrant camellia blossoms. Creamy black fruits and liquorice bud emerge after 15 minutes in the glass, this will take its time to fully open, suggest a good four or five years in bottle for the precise, carved natured of the tannins to soften and fully reveal the brilliance of this wine. Once again sitting among the very best of the appellation. 82% new oak. Harvest September 10 to 14. Noëmie Durantou winemaker, 42hl/h yield.

If La Petite Eglise hinted at depth, the taster’s challenge is to find an even more fitting description for Eglise Clinet! An infinitely complex dimension where every detail proves crucial, culminating in an almost improbable entity—so accomplished is it! The aromatic symbiosis confirms the trend seen in many 2023s: freshness and ripeness side by side… and in the case of Eglise Clinet, we can add obviousness and precision. The élevage—specifically the aromas of fresh wood—shows right from the attack, and only to set the stage. It paves the way for a compact, silky wine driven by a smooth yet powerful texture. The intensity is not overplayed; it is an integral part of the wine and draws life from an exceptional tannic structure that gradually reveals itself, delivering a contained, well-framed, compelling and even striking power. This wine has the tremendous merit of standing on its own, shining through its sincerity and the clarity of its message. It will allow us to live great moments simply by being itself, which in turn encourages us to do the same. “That is also why I make wine,” explains Noémie Durantou. The question is not whether 2023 is as good as or better than 2022, but rather whether there is any point in comparing two distinct entities whose common denominator is the passion and DNA that define them. A truly great bottle that shines with its self-evidence. What more could one ask for? A magnum!

An alluring style, with a cloak of smoky black tea draped over a fleshy core of mulled blackberry and morello cherry fruit flavors. A subtle singed alder accent skirts underneath, while flashes of violet and iris flicker through. An impressive effort for the vintage. Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2027 through 2038.

Logo on the cork: PE (Parramon) Deep, intense colour with black highlights. Very aromatic nose, refined, fruity, subtle and deep. Complex nuances of fresh and dark fruit. A hint of toast. Even more beautiful, purer and more vibrant when the glass is swirled. Extremely precise on the attack, very, very aromatic on the mid-palate, with a classy texture; the wine develops depth, freshness, fruit and a melt-in-the-mouth feel, leading into a very long, complex finish.