This is very tight and long for Petite Église with a very compact and focused palate. Medium-to full-bodied, compressed palate with ripe tannins that are firm and fresh. - jamessuckling.com, April 2019

Produced by Denis Durantou of Château L’Eglise Clinet, the 2018 La Petite Eglise is a blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc, with 35% new oak and 14.5% alcohol. This is the first time Cabernet Franc was used in the blend and the first time younger vines from L'Eglise Clinet were used. Deep purple-black in color, the nose is boldly scented of baked plums, Black Forest cake and kirsch with suggestions of forest floor, cinnamon stick, fertile loam and sautéed herbs with a waft of roses. Full-bodied, the palate is packed with fragrant black fruit preserves, textured by ripe, rounded tannins and finishes long and perfumed. - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, April 2019, The Wine Advocate

A very pretty vineyard wine with freshness and expression. Citric and bright with good structure. - April 2019

Getting the younger vines from l'Eglise Clinet, the 2018 La Petite Eglise is 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc brought up in 35% new French oak. Black cherries, tobacco leaf, some earth, and graphite notes all emerge from the glass, and it's elegant and rich at the same time. Nicely balanced, medium to full-bodied, with fine tannins and no hard edges, it's another terrific wine from this estate I’d be happy to drink. - jebdunnuck.com, May 2019

The 2018 La Petite Eglise is a gorgeous second wine from Denis Durantou's L'Eglise-Clinet. Creamy and plush, the 2018 wraps around the palate with fabulous density. The natural richness of grapes with thick skins and little juice comes through in intense dark cherry, mocha, spice and new leather flavors. Soft contours and plush, silky tannins give the Petite Eglise tons of immediacy. Readers will have a hard time keeping their hands off this gem. Sadly, yields are down 60%. The blend is is 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon.

The 2018 La Petite Eglise was picked 18 to 28 September and raised in 35% new oak. This was the most backward and reticent on the nose among the sextet of wines from Denis Durantou. Touches of oyster shell merge with the black fruit with time. The palate is medium-bodied with lithe tannins. This is a pliant and approachable Pomerol, quite saline in the mouth with a persistent and spicy finish. As usual, deeply impressive for a Deuxième Vin.

80% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc (young vines); 35% new oak. First year with Cabernet Franc. Barrel sample. Black core with crimson rim. Dark, savoury and chewy. The fruit is dense rather than aromatic. Pretty introvert even with all this power or perhaps because of the power; thick tannins but smoothed on the finish. (JH)

Black core with crimson rim. Dark, savoury and chewy. The fruit is dense rather than aromatic. Pretty introvert even with all this power or perhaps because of the power; thick tannins but smoothed on the finish.Julia Harding, jancisrobinson.com, April 2019