Appellations

Petite Eglise (2nd label of Eglise Clinet) 2018

Pomerol, Second wine

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Tasting Notes

The 2018 La Petite Eglise was picked September 18 to 28 and raised in 35% new oak. It is intriguing to read my notes from barrel, when this was "backward and reticent on the nose," since now is has attained some degree of youthful precocity, the black fruit mingling with kirsch and more floral, violet scents. The palate is medium-bodied and retains a sense of pliancy. Quite glossy, maybe richer than expected, and very persistent and pure, it reveals a hidden hedonism that it kept under wraps in barrel. Thoroughly delicious.

Score: 91 Neal Martin, Vinous.com Maturity: 2022 - 2034 Date: 23 August 2021

The 2018 La Petite Eglise was picked 18 to 28 September and raised in 35% new oak. This was the most backward and reticent on the nose among the sextet of wines from Denis Durantou. Touches of oyster shell merge with the black fruit with time. The palate is medium-bodied with lithe tannins. This is a pliant and approachable Pomerol, quite saline in the mouth with a persistent and spicy finish. As usual, deeply impressive for a Deuxième Vin.

Score: 90 - 92 Neal Martin, Vinous.com Maturity: 2022-2034 Date: 01 November 2019

The second wine of Château L'Eglise Clinet, the 2018 Petite Eglise offers a rich, plump, fruit-forward style offering textbook Pomerol notes of black cherry and blueberry fruits as well as leafy herbs, tobacco, and violets. With silky yet present tannins, medium to full body, and wonderful overall balance and purity, this beautiful second wine is ideal for drinking over the coming 10-15 years while you do your best to keep your hands off the Grand Vin!

Score: 92 Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com Maturity: 2021 - 2036 Date: 22 July 2021

Getting the younger vines from l'Eglise Clinet, the 2018 La Petite Eglise is 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc brought up in 35% new French oak. Black cherries, tobacco leaf, some earth, and graphite notes all emerge from the glass, and it's elegant and rich at the same time. Nicely balanced, medium to full-bodied, with fine tannins and no hard edges, it's another terrific wine from this estate I’d be happy to drink.

Score: 91 - 93 Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com Date: 01 May 2019

Produced by the late Denis Durantou of Château L’Eglise Clinet, the 2018 La Petite Eglise is a blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc, with 35% new oak and 14.5% alcohol. This is the first time Cabernet Franc was used in the blend and the first time younger vines from L'Eglise Clinet were used. Deep garnet-purple colored, it comes galloping out of the glass with scents of tilled soil, licorice and black truffles, opening out to a core of baked plums, boysenberries and kirsch, plus a touch of woodsmoke. The medium to full-bodied palate is chock-full of juicy black fruits, supported by plush tannins and lovely freshness, finishing long with a spicy kick.

Score: 92 Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2022 - 2037 Date: 17 July 2021

Produced by Denis Durantou of Château L’Eglise Clinet, the 2018 La Petite Eglise is a blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc, with 35% new oak and 14.5% alcohol. This is the first time Cabernet Franc was used in the blend and the first time younger vines from L'Eglise Clinet were used. Deep purple-black in color, the nose is boldly scented of baked plums, Black Forest cake and kirsch with suggestions of forest floor, cinnamon stick, fertile loam and sautéed herbs with a waft of roses. Full-bodied, the palate is packed with fragrant black fruit preserves, textured by ripe, rounded tannins and finishes long and perfumed.

Score: 91 - 93 Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Date: 23 April 2019

This is powerful and tingly with great minerality on show, but a large-framed Petite Eglise - a pretty hedonistic take on 2018, and certainly more than Durantou usually gives in to. There’s more Cabernet Franc in Petite Eglise than usual because new plantings up by the church have come on line, plus most of the usual vines for this wine are currently pulled up ready for replanting meaning it’s pretty much entirely young vines which took, and show, the heat of the summer. 35% new oak was used.

Score: 91 Jane Anson, Decanter.com Maturity: 2024-2036 Date: 15 April 2019

This is very tight and long for Petite Église with a very compact and focused palate. Medium-to full-bodied, compressed palate with ripe tannins that are firm and fresh.

Score: 93 - 94 James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com Date: 11 April 2019

The 2018 La Petite Eglise is a gorgeous second wine from Denis Durantou's L'Eglise-Clinet. Creamy and plush, the 2018 wraps around the palate with fabulous density. The natural richness of grapes with thick skins and little juice comes through in intense dark cherry, mocha, spice and new leather flavors. Soft contours and plush, silky tannins give the Petite Eglise tons of immediacy. Readers will have a hard time keeping their hands off this gem. Sadly, yields are down 60%. The blend is is 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon.

Score: 90 - 93 Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com Date: 01 April 2019