Castle L'Eglise-Clinet - Pomerol 2003

Wine Advocate

93 / 100

byNeal Martinthe7/29/2016

The Château l'Eglise-Clinet 2003 was served ex-château from bottle and magnum. Alongside the 2003 Château Lafleur, it represents one of the best Pomerol wines of the vintage. Why? Because as Denis himself explained, the vineyard naturally produced low pH that counterbalanced the summer heat. It was actually the bottle that has the best bouquet, lively and vibrant for the vintage, extremely well defined and youthful after 12 years. Macerated dark cherries, red plum and incense all soar from the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, slightly savory red berry fruit that is very spicy, white pepper and cumin. There is fine delineation on the finish and great length. It does not quite deliver the brilliant showing of previous bottles, but it deserves a round of applause. This is one of the few recent wines from the estate that I would prefer to drink in its youth. Tasted March 2015.

La Revue du Vin de France

17 / 20

the2/25/2008

L'une des réussites du millésime. Le vin se montre certes riche, légèrement compoté dans ses arîmes, mais sans aucune trace de fatigue ou de déséquilibre. Les notes de pâte de fruit, pain grillé et chocolat forment un bouquet exotique et complexe. Il faut tenter la garde.

Wine Advocate

88 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe4/24/2006

One of Pomerol’s topnotch estates, l’Eglise Clinet is run with impeccable attention to detail, both in the vineyard and cellar, by proprietor Denis Durantou. It is typically a blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc from a 40-year-old vineyard on the Pomerol plateau. During the torrid heat and drought of 2003, much of Pomerol was scorched, and producers whose vineyards were planted in gravel/sandy soils were forced to harvest prematurely. L’Eglise-Clinet, which had the earliest harvest in its history, has produced a light, but elegant, charming 2003 displaying plenty of sweet cherry fruit, and hints of raspberries, licorice, and new oak. While it possesses little depth, it is a medium-bodied, charmingly superficial effort to drink over the next 7-10 years.

Wine Spectator

93 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe3/31/2006

Blackberry, mineral and chocolate aromas galore. Full-bodied, chewy and rich. This is tightly wound with loads of fruit and ripe tannins. Needs time. Best after 2012. 1,100 cases made.

Wine Advocate

86-88 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe4/29/2005

Although performing better than it did last year, when it was decidedly light and lacking depth, the 2003 still displays severe tannin (clearly a problem) as well as a disjointed austerity. The color is a healthy deep ruby/purple, and the nose offers sweet black raspberry and cassis fruit, but the tannin is extremely astringent and the finish is short ... not good signs for the future evolution of one of my favorite Pomerols. This may turn out to be an above average quality wine, or, it may dry out quickly. Judgment reserved.

Wine Spectator

92-94 / 100

the6/30/2004

Plenty of blackberry, licorice and light jam character. Full-bodied, with well-integrated tannins and a soft, velvety finish. Lovely wine. Nicely crafted as always. 1 165 cases made

Le Point

15.50-16 / 20

byJacques Dupontthe5/20/2004

L'orientation des vignes pour moitié nord/sud, a favorisé le cru durant la canicule, selon le propriétaire Denis Durantou, grâce à l'ombre portée et un effeuillage modéré. Dégustation : Nez de fruits noirs, complexe, friand, parfumé. Jolie bouche suave, petit tanin gourmand en finale. Finale tout en fraîcheur.

Carnets de dégustation RVF

8.50-9 / 10

the5/20/2004

Trés puissant, truffé, intense, tanin d'une masse et toucher de bouche rugueux inhabituels au cru. Il ne faudra pas boire ce millésime trop tôt.

Decanter Magazine

5 / 20

the5/20/2004

Owner Denis Durantou admits to being puzzled and intrigued by this atypical vintage. The wine has a touch more brawn than usual but a rich, complex bouquet of dark cherry, liquorisch and violet. A smooth, velvety texture follows on attack with plenty of gras then firm, crunchy tannins. Finishes a little four-square at this stage. 2012-2025. The stars, generally with a greater percentage of clay soils, have produced truly stunning wines.

Wine Advocate

84-86 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe4/29/2004

Tasted on three separate occasions, l’Eglise-Clinet’s 2003 was disappointing at each tasting. It reveals an impressive deep ruby/purple-tinged color, but hard, astringent, tough-textured flavors that display a lack of flesh, charm, and depth. There is a big hole in the middle of this effort, and I am not sure it is going to fill in. Obviously, this sector of Pomerol was badly impacted by the summer’s extreme heat and drought, which ended too late to help many of these estates. This is a very traditional vinification, and I do not want to sound too severe, but this is one of the more disappointing efforts from the talented Denis Durantou over the last two decades. I hope I am wrong on this one.