In Bond Fine Wine. 2010 Château Eglise Clinet, Pomerol, Bordeaux, France. Red Bordeaux in 6x75cl. Top critic score: 98/100 (NM). Sold in bond by Albany Vintners, independent fine wine merchants.
Eglise Clinet is consistently one of the most profound wines of Pomerol, small in production (around 1000 cases per annum) but towering in reputation. Superbly located on the famous plateau of Pomerol, Eglise Clinet’s deep blue clay & gravel on iron-rich subsoils give its old-vine Merlot and Cabernet Franc remarkable depth and character. Denis Durantou made thrilling wines here and his daughters carry on this legacy at Eglise Clinet, making wines of richness, minerality & soul. La Petite Eglise is the second label of Eglise Clinet, made from a separate plot. The Durantou stable of Right Bank wines (Les Cruzelles, La Chenade, Montlandrie & Saintayme) impresses year in, year out. These are some of the finest value wines of Bordeaux at accessible prices.
Neal Martin (NM) — 94.5/100 · Vinous, 2020-04-01 · Drink 2028-2055
The 2010 L’Eglise-Clinet comes across a little introverted and sullen on the nose compared to its peers in this very strong flight. It is attractive in its own way with pretty red berry fruit, briary and rose petals, but declines to reveal its complexity. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, slightly lactic in style, modern in the context of this Pomerol cru, but well balanced on the…
Jancis Robinson MW (JR) — 18/20 · JancisRobinson.com, 15/04/2011 · Drink 2020-2035
'In 2009 it was easier to present primeur samples.' Very dark and glowing crimson. Savoury and dense and lively. Lip smacking. Lots of sweetness and nerve. Well done! A very firm thread and great integrity. Lovely texture. Much more sweetness than I would expect for a 2010. Racy and charming but with real density. 'The most complicated thing was to decide how many pumpovers to do each day. We red…
Robert Parker (RP) — 96–100/100 · Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com, 04/05/2011
Proprietor Denis Durantou has again produced one of Bordeaux's most profound wines, which seems to be happening routinely at this tiny estate on the Pomerol plateau. Opaque purple to the rim, with a wonderfully sweet nose of mulberry and black fruit, hints of mocha and caramel, and some subtle background oak, the 2010 is very expansive, multi-dimensional, with stunning purity, richness and equili…