Tapenade, dried flowers and blackberries. Full body and round, juicy tannins. Balanced and fresh with driven focus and depth. Vivid finish. Really underrated. Don’t miss this. Just starting to come around.

The 2008 Clos l’Eglise has a very pure, floral bouquet that is actually not dissimilar to the 2008 Barde-Haut, but shows more finesse and composure, perhaps a little more “confit” in style. The palate is medium-bodied with caressing tannin, impressive depth and fine mineralité towards the finish. This is a classy showing, a Pomerol with panache, though it will require another three or four years in bottle. (Tasted at the château and at BI Wine & Spirits’ annual vertical tasting.)

There's a chewy quality to the texture of this wine, showing grilled oak and espresso notes which are just a touch dominant, but there's a beautiful shot of salty caramel through the finish. It's still in its primary phase, where the fruit is full of flesh and spice, and it remains extremely concentrated right now.
Tasted by Jane Anson (at BI, London, 01 Jan 2018)
Part of How Bordeaux 2008 wines taste now: 70 top names rated

A strong effort for the vintage, the 2008 Clos l’Eglise offers notes of espresso roast, Asian plum sauce, black currants and a hint of oak in a fleshy, medium to full-bodied style with outstanding purity, texture and length. It can be drunk now and over the next 10-12 years. Kudos to proprietress Helene Garcin and winemaking consultant Dr. Alain Raynaud.

This boasts a modern profile, with notes of mocha and roasted apple wood fronting for dark plum sauce, Christmas pudding, anise and fig bread. The fleshy, toast-driven finish has plenty of weight and should stretch out with mid-term cellaring. JM