Wine Advisor
Clos L'Eglise Pomerol 2005
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
The talented and charming Sylvie Garcin runs this tiny property of 15 acres, planted with 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc. The wine is aged in 100% new oak. The 2005 is dense ruby/purple, with notes of smoky barbecue, crushed blackcurrants and jammy cherries, with some licorice and earth in the background (truffle?). This full-bodied, multi-dimensional, full-throttle and concentrated Pomerol is top class. This is a great example of the vintage and of this beautiful terroir not far from Pomerol’s church. Approachable now, it will even improve for another 5-10 years and drink well for at least two more decades.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
A spectacular Pomerol from Helene Garcin, this blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc emerges from a 15-acre vineyard planted on the plateau of Pomerol. The 2005 ranks alongside the estate’s greatest efforts to date, the 2001, 2000, and 1998. An extraordinary perfume of creme brulee interwoven with chocolate, mocha, blackberries, and sweet kirsch soars from the glass. With superb intensity, sweet tannin, stunning opulence, and fabulous texture and purity, this is a compelling example of the appellation as well as the vintage. It should be approachable in 3-4 years, and last for two decades or more. If you can find it, buy it by the caseload. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2030.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
A good wine from this upcoming estate though not quite as good as their neighbour, L'Eglise-Clinet lying opposite the road. A soft cassis, blueberry nose, a little "fluffy" and lacking definition but quite charming. The palate is well-knit with a fine core of sweet black fruit. Not complex but there is an attractive femininity here. An example of an estate benefiting from the successful Cabernet Franc. Tasted March 2006.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
A very focused nose of blackberry, wild strawberry and a touch of liquorice. The tannins are quite firm with ripe black toasty fruit infused with a hint of black coffee. Well-knit, very tight and cohesive towards the finish. Potentially a great Clos l'Eglise. Tasted April 2006.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
This estate has been on fire since 1997, and the 2005 is their finest effort since 2000, 2001, and 1998. A blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc (from the oldest vines of Pomerol), it offers up fabulous aromas of truffles, black currants, vanilla, barbecue spices, and graphite. This well-endowed, full-bodied wine reveals an opulent, voluptuous texture, surprisingly good acidity, and high tannin. The 2005 vintage is unusual in that it is extremely concentrated and tannic yet vibrant and refreshing. This is another example of a potentially profound as well as long-lived wine. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2030.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
The 2005 Clos l’Eglise gives the brilliant 2001, 2000, and1998 a run for their money. Time will tell if it eventually eclipses those three sensational efforts. A huge, sweet nose of creme brulee intermixed with black cherry liqueur, blackberries, tar, caramel, and mocha/coffee soars from the glass of this blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc. Opulence, superb intensity, abundant quantities of sweet toasty oak, a full-bodied richness, and excellent purity as well as depth suggest it will age effortlessly for over two decades. This is a brilliant Pomerol from proprietor Helene Garcin and her consulting winemaker, Dr. Alain Raynaud.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The Clos l’Eglise 2005 is more backward on the nose compared to its peers, but I appreciate the delineation here: blackberry, cedar and just a touch of peppermint. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin. There is just a dash of black pepper on the entry: quite grippy in the mouth that fans out in controlled fashion. This feels slightly sultry at the moment but it will gain some flesh as it continues to mature in bottle. This still has that panache.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
Tasted blind at Southwold, this Pomerols is adorned with an alluring, feminine, well-defined but tightly coiled nose of dark cherries, cranberry and a touch of Doris plum. The palate has firm, gritty tannins, good acidity, nice poise and clarity with pure blackberry and spice towards the finish. This is a- Pomerol with intention, a real vin de garde. Drink 2012-2030. Tasted January 2009.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
I have always admired the superb Clos l’Eglise 2005. Here it has a wonderful, complex nose that takes time to unfurl, but eventually reveals lovely black olive compote, black cherries and cassis aromas. The palate is structured with fine, taut tannins and plenty of pure boysenberry and raspberry fruit that feels so succulent and silky smooth in the mouth. There is a touch of glycerine on the finish of this “complete” Clos l’Eglise that should age with more panache than the 1998. Tasted May 2012.
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
Once again, the 2005 Clos L'Eglise is fabulous. Deep, bold and luscious, the 2005 delivers the goods, and then some. Sweet red cherry fruit, plum, cedar, tobacco, mint, mocha and spice fill out the layers effortlessly. Even with all of its intensity, the 2005 retains terrific brightness and verve. What a pleasure it is to see this juicy, explosive Pomerol in such fine shape. It's a superb wine from Hélène Garcin.
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
With its succulent, inviting personality, the 2005 Clos L'Eglise announces that this is going to be a very special night. A host of dark cherry, plum, mocha and new leather notes meld together in a spherical, inviting Pomerol that is just beginning to enter the sweet spot. The 2005 is not particularly complex, but it is incredibly alluring and just plain delicious. It should drink well for another twenty years.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The 2005 Clos l’Eglise has a fresh and vibrant bouquet with quite strong eucalyptus aromas, well defined and maybe a little New World in style. The palate is medium-bodied with thickset tannins, grippy brambly fruit, slightly viscous. Powerful, gutsy and bold, this is a big boned, brassy Pomerol; although, you might argue that it is missing a little finesse on the finish. Hedonists will get a kick out of this. Tasted at the Clos l’Eglise vertical.
Reviewed by: Stephen Tanzer
(14% alcohol) Full red-ruby. Superripe, even decadent aromas of plum, redcurrant and caramel; very Pomerol. Like liquid silk in the mouth, with an extravagant sweetness and lushness to the middle palate. Wonderfully fine-grained and rich, with its fruit component in the background today. The finish goes on and on, and is almost shockingly vibrant. In terms of aromatic persistence, this was one of the longest wines of my week on the Right Bank. A compelling wine.
Reviewed by: Stephen Tanzer
Full medium ruby. Deep aromas of black raspberry, roast coffee and truffle; this could not be anything but Pomerol. Then thick, large-scaled and a bit youthfully clenched, with an almost port-like, chocolatey ripeness and superb depth of dark fruit and mineral flavor. This is sweeter than the 2006 but less fruity today. Finishes with utterly lush tannins and outstanding palate coverage and length.
Reviewed by: Stephen Tanzer
Deep ruby-purple color. Knockout nose offers black raspberry, currant, violet, minerals and truffle. Compellingly rich and concentrated, with chewy density of texture verging on painful. But the flavors of berry liqueur, chocolate and minerals are ultimately round and suave. Wonderfully solid, delineated Pomerol with great mouth coverage. The big, ripe, chocolatey tannins coat the front teeth. Finishes with an exhilarating sappy character. The Garcin family has taken this wine to a new level with the 2005 vintage. According to Helene Garcin, the crop level here was 40 hectoliters per hectare, but no bleeding of the must was necessary as the berries were small. The key to the balance of this wine may well have been the harvesting strategy. According to Garcin, the merlot (80%) was brought in a bit earlier than usual here, but then the cabernet franc (20%) was picked late. The alcohol is a full but hardly excessive 13.6%.
Reviewed by: James Suckling
This is wonderfully vivid and bright with black-olive skin, violets and lavender. Licorice, too. Full-bodied, tight and chewy. Very layered and refined. Focused and compressed. A wonderfully aromatic wine. Just opening now.
