Chateau L'Eglise-Clinet Vertical
Bentley Hotel, London
Tasted Tuesday, May 31, 2005 by Russell Faulkner with 1,672 views
Introduction
This promised to be a great night and didn't disapoint, 9 vintages, with an 'offline' afterwards in the great 1880 restaurant.
Flight 1 - The Main Event (10 Notes)
Very interesting tasting, the young wines all showed a nice tannin profile I am not used to, I found it quite different from right bank wines of similar vintages, hard to describe, not astringent but low profile whilst still powerful. Very interesting. The sweetness on the older wines was great, hard to match to food, but so enjoyable. Great tasting, and the 1989 was over and above the call of duty!
2000 Château L'Eglise-Clinet
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol
Vibrant ruby
Toasty, smoky oak dominates the nose, fruit shut down tight, with time the nose developed to show some maple syrup and more coffee.
Despite the closed nose, the attack showed a lot of fruit, and violets, but quickly died to lead into a finish of strong, but sneaky tannins. Nice medium-full body.
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1998 Château L'Eglise-Clinet
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol
Noticably older looking than the 2000, but still very young.
More closed, a little spirit on nose.
The oak showing more subtly and less spicy, again those powerful, but sly tannins.
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1995 Château L'Eglise-Clinet
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol
Oak has dropped away, showing a vibrancy of fruit, damson and jammy plum.
The slight astringency to the tannin dropped away, shortish finish.
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1990 Château L'Eglise-Clinet
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol
This had a bit of bricking.
Initially I thought this might be faulty, with oxidation and VA both being present, but these died off to give some caramelised orange.
Nome nice cosy deep fruit, black cherry, but also some heat.
This wine is easily the lightest bodied of the younger wines.
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1989 Château L'Eglise-Clinet
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol
Seductive nose, balanced.
Very sweet on attack and midpalate, but more solid, grippy tannin and acid on the finish.
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1985 Château L'Eglise-Clinet
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol
The tiniest bit of bricking,
A real bretty nose, a great combination of horse sweat and shit.
Very concentrated, deep vibrant fruit, lovely freshness, and supple tannin.
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1978 Château L'Eglise-Clinet
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol
Noticeably older, real orange to the rim.
Fruit not noticeable on the nose, more meaty lamb and camembert.
Very sweet again, lacking in tannin to bring balance.
A delicious but uncomplicated finish.
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1975 Château L'Eglise-Clinet Flawed
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol
Corked, a shame as there was some fine fruit on the nose behind the stink.
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1961 Château L'Eglise-Clinet
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol
This had no new oak, and this was really noticeable.
Fully mature colour
Very powerful nose of dried cherry and plum.
Some nice acid keeping the fruit fresh, and smooth seductive tannin, both of which were missing in the 1978.
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1947 Château L'Eglise-Clinet
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol
No more aged on the nose than the 1961 or 1978, but colour lighter.
Lovely nose, with nice savoury notes of dried leaves and spitting tobacco.
Very sweet seductive fruit, some rhubarb and again nice dried cherry.
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