Chateau L´Eglise Clinet 2015

JAMES SUCKLING: "The violets, roses and dark fruits are so evident but they entice you in a subtle and fresh way. Full-bodied, dense and tannic, yet everything is so in tune with everything else and there are no hard edges or loose ends. It’s like a whirlpool that draws you down and then shows you its beauty. The harmony and complexity is phenomenal. Try in 2024 but I don’t want to wait."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: “With a depth of color that lets you know this is a seriously concentrated wine, when your nose meet the glass, you find roses, truffle, nuts, espresso, dark chocolate, cocoa, mint and ripe plums. The wine is dense and palate staining. The fruit gets into every nook and cranny your taste buds allow. With opulent textures, length and complexity, the wine moves from red to black fruits to chocolate, to licorice and back to the fruit again, as it lingers on your palate. Give this over a decade in the cellar and it could hit triple digits as it ages."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "Composed of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, the 2015 L'Eglise Clinet comes bursting out of the glass with a gorgeous perfume of exotic spices and potpourri over a core of blueberry compote, red currant jelly, spiced black plums and mulberries with touches of unsmoked cigars, powdered cinnamon and licorice. Big, rich and full-bodied, the palate offers exquisite harmony, packed with exotic spice and red and black fruit layers, finishing on an epically long-lasting mineral note. In an understated word: WOW."

LISA PERROTTI-BROWN: "In 2015 L’Eglise-Clinet was a blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc and is deep garnet-purple in color. It needs a lot of swirling to unlock notes of warm black cherries, preserved plums, and blueberry compote, plus suggestions of tar, unsmoked cigars, and fertile loam. The full-bodied palate bursts with bold, ripe black fruits and loads of exotic spice sparks, framed by velvety tannins and tons of freshness, finishing on a lingering ferrous note."

WEINWISSER: "Der Zweitwein (La Petite Église) war noch nie so gut. Fast hätte ich die Degustationsration geschluckt. Das könnte also bereits eine Kaufempfehlung sein. Extrem dunkles Purpur mit lila und violetten Reflexen. Das Bouquet ist präzise und zeigt viel tiefgründige Noten, die Frucht ist geprägt von vielen kleinen, reifen Beeren, zudem findet man kandierte Früchte und Spuren von Zitronenthymian mit einem Hauch von Minze. Im Gaumen fest, verlangend mit einer deutlichen Adstringenz, die Tannine sind momentan so stark, dass diese den wohl reichen Körper dominieren. Die Frucht wirkt extrem reif und im zweiten Nachhall findet man die berühmten Himbeerkerne, welche jeweils einen ganz grossen Jahrgang dokumentieren. Doch diese Grösse hat auch seinen Preis. Der Wein wird nur ganz langsam altern. Und wenn man den vielleicht vergleichbaren Jahrgang 1998 in Betracht zieht, so ist dieser nach fast zwei Dekaden immer noch weit entfernt von seiner ersten Reife. Also kann man die erste Reife hier so in 25 Jahren erwarten. Dieser barocke, mächtige 2015er L'Église-Clinet ist absolut nichts für Ungeduldige."

WINE SPECTATOR: WINESPECTATOR: “This delivers a fresh, enticing beam of raspberry, boysenberry and blackberry coulis flavors that stretch out admirably while light anise, singed apple wood and fruitcake notes check in. Picks up some sneaky grip and a pretty mineral twinge through the finish. Rather elegant overall considering how much is here. Best from 2020 through 2035."

JANCIS ROBINSON: JANCIS ROBINSON: “Tasted blind. Muted but well-behaved nose. Black-cherry flavours but not overripe. Slightly charred but well intentioned."