Wine Advisor
Clos L'Eglise Pomerol 2008
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
A strong effort for the vintage, the 2008 Clos l’Eglise offers notes of espresso roast, Asian plum sauce, black currants and a hint of oak in a fleshy, medium to full-bodied style with outstanding purity, texture and length. It can be drunk now and over the next 10-12 years. Kudos to proprietress Helene Garcin and winemaking consultant Dr. Alain Raynaud.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
Tasted at the Syndicat de Pomerol. The ’08 Clos l’Eglise has a well-defined, almost restrained bouquet with subtle notes of raspberry and blueberry laced with dark chocolate. There is patently well-integrated new oak here. The palate is medium-bodied with filigree tannins, very pure and focused with beautiful strawberry and red cherry fruit on the refined, poised finish. Bon Vin! Tasted December 2010.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
Tasted ex-chateau and single blind in Southwold. The Clos l’Eglise is very closed on the nose, especially coming after the previous wine (which turned out to be Le Pin.) You get the sense that it is withholding something back for later in its evolution. The palate is tannic and structured with real backbone: pure blackberry, raspberry and creme de cassis and with fine precision towards the finish. Masculine, broody but compelling, Helene Garcin-Leveque has fashioned a superb Pomerol this year. Tasted January 2012.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
An intense yet delicate effort, this Pomerol property had a tiny production in 2008, and the levels of concentration and polyphenols are as high as, or surpass those in 2005, 2001, 2000, and 1998, the most recent top vintages of Clos l-Eglise. The dense purple-colored 2008 reveals a sweet perfume of blue and black fruits, licorice, truffles, graphite, and forest floor. With superb concentration, beautiful intensity, an unevolved, backward style (no doubt due to the late harvest and late malolactics), and high, but sweet, well-integrated tannins, this full-bodied, admirably concentrated 2008 should be at its peak between 2013-2028.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
En primeur barrel sample. This has a very deep, purple colour. The nose is closed at first, broody and surly with blackberry and plum, a hint of boysenberry. The palate is well structured with fine tannins and a Cabernet Sauvignon-like personality. Silky smooth, tightly wound finish threaded through with Clos L-Eglise's trademark purite. Excellent. Tasted March 2009.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The Clos l’Eglise 2008 is taut, backward and earthy on the nose, adorned with black rather than red fruit with some oak to be absorbed. The palate is medium-bodied with a supple entry. There is a fine bead of acidity here, rounded with clean dark cherry and cassis fruit. Although this is a little linear at the moment, it should blossom into a seriously fine Pomerol. Tasted May 2012.
Reviewed by: James Suckling
Yummy wine. Very pretty aromas of milk chocolate, berry and blue berry follow through to a full body, with soft and silky tannins and a medium finish. Need at least three to four years of bottle age to soften.
Reviewed by: James Suckling
Tapenade, dried flowers and blackberries. Full body and round, juicy tannins. Balanced and fresh with driven focus and depth. Vivid finish. Really underrated. Don’t miss this. Just starting to come around.
