Chateau L'Eglise-Clinet, Pomerol 2008

The 2008 l’Eglise-Clinet was picked 1 to 6 October and matured in 80% new oak. It has a very refined and detailed bouquet that is less powerful than the 2009 or 2010, yet there is wonderful articulation of the terroir here, dusky black fruit laced with black truffle and a touch of undergrowth. It is the most recent vintage that suggests moving onto secondary aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with fine grain tannin, grippy in the mouth, fresh and vibrant with an almost chalky finish. This certainly deserves to be part of the 2008/2009/2010 triumvirate and it is furnished with a beautiful mineral-driven aftertaste. The insider’s choice? Most certainly. Tasted at the l’Eglise-Clinet vertical at the château in April 2018.

A remarkable wine in this vintage, L’Eglise Clinet’s 2008 has a color almost as dark as the barrel sample of 2010. Classic mocha and caramel-infused creme de cassis and black cherry notes, with hints of licorice and loamy soil soar from the glass of this opaque ruby/purple, aromatically compelling wine. Opulent, expansive, and savory, with a broad texture, a full-bodied mouthfeel, terrific purity and a layered finish, this is another big, massive wine that transcends the vintage character, and will probably need 7-10 years of bottle age. It should keep for 20 or more years as well.

A dusty and sensual wine with beautiful perfumes of blackberries, blueberries, minerals, and flowers. Full bodied, but very delicate and refined with ultra-fine tannins and a gorgeous finish. Try it in four to five years.

Good full red. Pure, floral aromas of black cherry and plum are complicated by strong lead pencil and black pepper notes. Suave on entry, then conveys an almost saline sense of extract in the middle, with very good definition and verve to the pretty black fruit, ink and graphite flavors. Distinctly minty on the finish. A politely styled L'Eglise-Clinet with real breed, showing more acidity than most Pomerols from this vintage.