EP23 Release: Château l'Eglise Clinet 2023 "one of the best wines of the vintage" 98-100pts NM

Today sees the release of undoubtedly one of our top wines of the 2023 primeur tastings – the brilliant Château L’Eglise Clinet – at GBP 2508 per 12 IB.

“I maintained my Lady Gaga-approved poker face tasting l’Église-Clinet, looking indifferent as my senses performed star-jumps of elation. I returned almost four weeks later at the end of my ‘marathon’ to check it was as brilliant as I thought. It wasn’t. It was even better.” NM

Following the all too early death, four years ago, of pioneering Pomerol vigneron, Denis Durantou, his daughters, Noemie and Constance, were suddenly thrust into the limelight, burdened with the responsibility of continuing their father’s remarkable legacy. But not only have they stepped up to the plate, it would appear, having witnessed the last two vintages, that they’ve fully embraced the Durantou mantle and built upon it further. The confidence exhibited in both the production and results of their 2023 harvest – for all their wines! – is nothing short of mind-blowing. From dealing with the threats of mildew by imploring locals with quadbikes to help treat the vines when the mud was too thick for tractors to waiting the perfect moment to pick the grapes, les filles Durantou have played an absolute blinder this year.

“It is surely going to vie with the stupendous 2022, and this ranks as one of the best wines of the vintage” NM

“A head-turner!” LPB

Given our great personal affection for Denis, it would be easy to suggest there’s a sprinkling of sentimentality when announcing L’Eglise Clinet as amongst our favourite wines in 2023 – but make no mistake, this Pomerol has everything you could wish for from the finest addresses of this feted commune – the most beguiling purity, an explosive mid-palate intensity (rare this vintage) and sublime, reverberating finish through a carapace of ripe, textural tannins. Denis himself would be beaming from ear to ear if he could see just how brilliantly his daughters are sowing the seeds for future generations of the Durantou clan. Chapeau!

“opulent, rich, aromatic, concentrated, and long” JL

“The purity and precision of this young Eglise Clinet is exceptional, with finesse, intensity and fine tannins that last for minutes on the palate.” JS

Add L'Eglise Clinet 2023 to my cellar

2023 l’Eglise Clinet

98-100pts NM Vinous “The 2023 L'Eglise-Clinet was picked between September 10 and 14 and matured in 82% new oak. It has a stunning bouquet with enthralling delineation and focus, very intense with blackberries, raspberry, crushed stone, Earl Grey and a touch of blood orange. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-boned tannins and a dash of cracked black pepper. It's very harmonious and fans out brilliantly on the finish. It is surely going to vie with the stupendous 2022, and this ranks as one of the best wines of the vintage. Tasted on two visits at the beginning and end of my Bordeaux tastings.”

97-99pts LPB The Wine Independent “A blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, L’Eglise-Clinet 2023 has a pH of 3.7. It is deep garnet-purple in color and opens with an initial burst of gregarious fruit, with blueberry preserves and ripe, juicy plums giving way to perfumed waves of lilacs, cinnamon stick, star anise, crushed rocks, and forest floor. The medium to full-bodied palate is tightly coiled at this stage with the taut, intense black and blue fruit core intertwined with minerals and exotic spices, supported by firm, rounded tannins and compelling tension, finishing very long and fragrant. A head-turner!”

97-99pts JL The Wine Cellar Insider “The wine quickly focuses you on its floral characteristics paired with black raspberries, plums, black, with white cherries, dark chocolate, and just an edge of coffee beans. The palate however, is where the excitement takes place. The wine is opulent, rich, aromatic, concentrated, and long. The mark of freshness is there, but, you also experience the wine's elegance, and silky tannins, as well as its length, and width on the mid-palate, and finish. Interestingly, here, it was the moderate amount of sun hours that helped make the vintage as it shielded the grapes from the late summer heat wave. From a blend of 90% Merlot with 10% Cabernet Franc, 14.60% ABV. The harvest took place September 10-September 14. It is great to see continuing strong wines from the Durantou family. Drink from 2029-2060.”

97-98pts JS James Suckling “The purity and precision of this young Eglise Clinet is exceptional, with finesse, intensity and fine tannins that last for minutes on the palate. It grows slowly and then builds and continues. The energy is terrific. Finishes long and confident. All about structure with finesse. The tannins really are refined and tightly woven. 90% merlot and 10% cabernet franc.”

97pts JA Inside Bordeaux “Rises through the palate, intense and concentrated with cloves, pomegranate, black pepper, cumin, rosemary, rich black fruits balanced and given lift and contrast by nuanced and fresher raspberry leaf, tomato leaf, saline squid ink, and fresh citrus peel acidities. This has cohesion, precision, lift and character. Noëmie Durantou winemaker. Harvest September 1 to 18. 42hl/h yield.”

97pts PK Decanter “Crafted from deep rooted vines in both clay with clayey gravel, this estate succeeds like no other in expressing power from this appellation but without any hard or drying tannins, which one can encounter in 2023 from other estates. Cool and confident menthol, bright tangy red berry and blueberry fruit aromas introduce an almost Pauillac like palate whose tannic grip is happily balanced by blood red orange like freshness. Aging in 82% new oak, this wine was made from grapes picked before the September rains: the tannins show no rawness, but rather pristine ripeness. I love the linear focus enveloped with subtle succulence, ending with a long finish. Give it the full opportunity to improve in your cellar, not before 2033, when it will reward your patience fully.”

95-97pts JD Jeb Dunnuck “The Grand Vin 2023 Château L'Eglise Clinet checks in as 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc that's resting in 82% new barrels. It brings another level of density as well as purity, with fabulous notes of cassis, ripe black cherries, chocolate, smoked tobacco, iron, and spice, as well as a kiss of background graphite. Medium to full-bodied, concentrated, yet very much in the vibrant, fresh, classic style of the vintage, it has ripe tannins and a gorgeous finish. It shines on all accounts, offering beautiful purity and complexity and plenty of richness, and it should have a broad, lengthy drink window.”

94-97pts AG Vinous “The 2023 L’Eglise-Clinet is fabulous. Rich, deep and vertical in structure, this is all poise. Nothing in particular stands out, as all the elements are impeccably balanced. Time in the glass helps this open a bit, but the 2023 is a wine of reserve—a wine that is not showing all its cards. Gravel, incense, tobacco, dried herbs and mocha open with some coaxing. This will be stellar in time.”

93-95pts WK The Wine Advocate “The 2023 L'Eglise Clinet unwinds in the glass with brooding aromas of dark berries and cherries mingled with baking chocolate, pipe tobacco and toasty new oak. Full-bodied, layered and muscular, with a sweet core of fruit framed by rich, powdery, generously extracted tannin, it's broad-shouldered and powerful, concluding with a long, expansive finish. It's a blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc that checks in at 14.6% alcohol.”