Community Tasting Note

Sunday, August 7, 2022 - Alluringly smooth and polished for such a young wine, the 2018 L'Eglise-Clinet shows purple and red berry fruit on the initial pull of the cork, primary and linear as one might expect, with a finish that already has an "expensive" glide but sans full-on smoke show or poppin' vibrancy at the moment. Energy here is solid, but it isn't in the kaboom realm the way one might expect. It's a modern housing with a classical intensity.

After a few hours in the decanter, the purple elements begin to take hold, deepening their posture and offering a core that is more complete and layered. The final sips were the best (after 5 hours in the decanter - and it could've used 5 more of course). This has rock n' roll excitement (though it'll never be a heyday White Zombie concert) as well as classical enticement. Metalhead devil horns do not exists here, and I'm sure for most puritans reading this, that's a good thing. But for me, I could've used one extra tick up on the mosh pit meter.

This will certainly evolve for the next 15+ years and should be left alone for a minimum of 6-7 years in my paltry opinion. I'm not worried here one bit and I quite enjoyed this wine. There were sparks indeed, but it wasn't a full fireworks show...yet? 95-97+ points.

And for those of you who instantly have the, "How can you judge this kind of wine so young you idiot?!" thing going on... I hear you. But getting an early read on these young BDXs has certainly helped garner some information that, like trying any fledgling wine, brings about a trajectory read that may not be solid math, but is not without mapping some accurate coordinates as to where a wine might land eventually (not that they ever "land" anywhere or anytime what with the constant meandering of expressions of these creatures take on at any given time). Considering price, I'm still trying to decide here if I $300 enjoyed this, which sounds ominous I suppose, but I'm sure someone will stumble across this note a decade from now and figure out a way to rub it in my face how this is a 100 point wine now (in 2032) and I should've gotten my WSET level 35 before I opened my mouth. Maybe I'll be in a convalescent home with an opioid-fiending orderly stealing my South African Krugerrand collection by then and I won't care. Something to look forward to...

Post a Comment /
6 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue (4,037 views)

13 comments have been posted

Comment posted by LiteItOnFire:

8/7/2022 12:56:00 PM - I love my Cougar Aunt… wait is that something different? Very cool you pulled this as I have contemplated pulling the cork on this every time I walk by it’s cute smiling face. Reading your review I will try and hold out a bit to see if it inches up the scale or stays right where it is.
Comment posted by csimm:

8/7/2022 2:16:00 PM - I’m sure if you decanted overnight in a cool cellar or something like that, it might drive out even more flavor. I’d wait a few years at least if you can... though they are tempting when they just stare at you like that...
Comment posted by MJP Hou TX:

8/7/2022 4:08:00 PM - Clinet for now, L'Eglise Clinet for later. Thanks for taking one for the team and letting us know your take as it is today.

I killed a 18 VCC recently. It happens to the best of us.
Comment posted by csimm:

8/7/2022 4:55:00 PM - I still gotta get on the VCC bandwagon! I'm laggin'.
Comment posted by I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine:

8/8/2022 12:12:00 PM - I think any 18 Bordeaux is WAY young, even Client! I have some 15's and they're still way young, although approachable. I cannot imagine popping corks on any 18's or 19's. I think 12s maybe, even possibly 14s. I am hoping 8-10 years on these left bank wines...hopefully, that is not too optimistic!
Comment posted by csimm:

8/8/2022 12:37:00 PM - It's funny to me sometimes... Often when someone gives a certain BDX drinking window, by the time I have it, I find it to be good but often lacking some of the intensity and drive I'd like (and possibly have seen it exhibit a number of years ago). For me, the sweet spot is usually on the younger side, where it hasn't become a bit tired for my palate. Of course 18 and 19 are too young to pop, but (absent a complete shut down period) I'm someone who can find pleasure in these wines when they are super young. Maybe I'm in the minority here. I never was good at following rules... :)
Comment posted by I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine:

8/8/2022 3:26:00 PM - LOL....no rules! Everyone needs to be true to their palate! Even then, it is hard to judge when to open a bottle. Unless you have unlimited wealth and a boat-load of all wines, which I have neither, you need to rely on others tasting notes, or someone who's palate you feel lines up with yours. Personally, I like wines that show tertiary flavors AND purity of fruit....it is tricky though trying to time this, as the window is much more limited. Of course (and especially with Bordeaux) vintage plays a significant part, e.g., 2004 and 2008 are drinking quite well for my palate, but 2005 is still too young, too tannic and some show too much alcohol on the palate...at least for me and my palate. Re: drinking windows, they are all over the place, and really wish CT didn't follow JG's recommendation and listed the average of everyone who comments. Nuff said....
Comment posted by csimm:

8/8/2022 3:54:00 PM - Totally agree. And ya I think the drinking window is seemingly narrower with BDX, especially in touchy vintages. IRBDW, you have much more experience than I do across vintages with BDX by a long shot, so I value your opinion. Lite and MJP also have great referential experience. Anyway, I appreciate everyone's feedback and recommendations. I might be being to finicky about BDX, wanting it to wow me in ways it isn't designed to do. I find myself caught in the middle often - not wanting Napa fruit bombs (and not wanting to spend $500-1000 for the likes of Harlan, Promontory, etc), and also not wanting a "just good" BDX that is complete, proper, aged appropriately, and all that but just doesn't have a ton of personality in the flavor, concentration, and intensity departments.

If someone could just point me to a few of the perfect wines out there and end my struggling quest, that would be appreciated... ;)
Comment posted by I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine:

8/8/2022 7:06:00 PM - I hear you CSIMM....I am not quite sure where your palate lies (other than like me, you don't particularly care for wines that are too old....) If I may, I would suggest you try a 1996 Cos d'Estournel (I think they canoe had for around $250) or a 1990 Grand Puy Lacoste or 1990 Leoville Barton (both around $280) Of course you run the risk of storage and bottle variation, but those wines should give you an idea where yournpalate lies.....I personally lean toward fruit, but am pretty middle of the road (at least in my own mind!) Or.....you could come to MN and I would happily open a couple bottles with you!

Also, I am going to Lite's Angelus tasting at the end of the month.....if you want to meet in AZ, we could taste some wines together too.....I am sure Lite would be up for it!
Comment posted by csimm:

8/9/2022 10:42:00 AM - I wish I could make the Anhelo event in a few weeks. We will definitely have to meet up! I think my palate lies at the younger side of the house - generally of course. Dipping into the 90s for me seems like the freshness would have been sacrificed too much for the tertiary flavoring. Of course, I love to be proven wrong :) Thanks for the recommendations!
Comment posted by jmoon:

8/9/2022 11:59:00 AM - Occurs to me the “thinking window” of when people expect it to oerfect is different to the drinking window . If it’s young and great why wait!
Comment posted by csimm:

8/9/2022 12:05:00 PM - I like it jmoon. That's kinda where I'm at a lot of the time with these wines. Patience is a virtue...sometimes... but the disappointment of waiting for just the right time, only for that time to never arrive, is a severe bummer.
Comment posted by I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine:

8/9/2022 12:39:00 PM - That is very true....but when it does happen, it can be majical!