Wine Advisor
Clos L'Eglise Pomerol 2010
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Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
Tasted blind at the Southwold Bordeaux 2010 tasting. The Clos l'Eglise 2010 has an intense bouquet with dense black fruit mixed with autumn leaves and crushed rock - well defined with good lift. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, a little chewy on the fruit palate but plenty of substance and grip towards the liquorice-tinged finish. There is a fine sense of energy here: no frills but everything in its right place. Tasted January 2014.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
The Garcin family has made so many top vintages of Clos l’Eglise since taking over this estate in the late nineties that it is difficult to say 2010 will turn out better than 2009, 2005, 2000 or 1998, but it is unquestionably a top-flight effort for both the vintage and the appellation. A blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc, this full-bodied wine exhibits a dense purple color, a sweet perfume of jammy boysenberries and black currants, oak, truffles and caramel. This opulent, deep yet powerful Pomerol possesses fresh acids and tremendous precision. Enjoy it over the next 15-20 years. By the way, a second wine, the forward, up-front 2010 Esprit de l’Eglise, also performed well.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
Tasted three times including at Barde-Haut, this has a precocious, lifted peppermint-tinged bouquet with black cherries, briary, juniper and a touch of blueberry. Good definition. The palate is medium-bodied with firm tannins, good balance but quite introspective on the tannic, grippy finish. This is a more masculine Clos l’Eglise than recent vintages, one that will repay long-term cellaring. Tasted April 2011.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
Tasted at Chateau Barde Haute, the Clos l’Eglise is a blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc. It has a very intense bouquet with a lot of oak that will need several years to be fully absorbed. It offers some gorgeous floral notes with a faint touch of star anis emerging with time. The palate is medium-bodied with grippy tannins on the entry. Perhaps it does not need quite the 100% new oak, which tends to dominate the finish and why I remain parsimonious with my sky. Nevertheless, it should end up a very fine Clos l’Eglise. Tasted November 2012.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
Another brilliant wine from Helene Garcin-Leveque, the 2010 Clos L’Eglise comes from a 15-acre vineyard near the well-known church just to the west of the high plateau of Pomerol. It is a blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc. Loads of roasted espresso notes intermixed with white chocolate, plum, Asian soy, blackberry and black cherry fruit make for an intensely perfumed set of aromatics. Plump, fleshy and full-bodied, with beautiful fruit as well as undeniable purity and an enticing texture, this is a succulent, lush Pomerol to drink over the next 12-15+ years.
Reviewed by: Lisa Perrotti-Brown
Deep garnet colored, the 2010 Clos l'Eglise leaps from the glass with vivacious baked raspberries, warm red and black plums and dried herbs notes plus wafts of pencil shavings and menthol. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has impressive energy with a firm line of chewy tannins and bold freshness, finishing with loads of zip in its step.
Reviewed by: Ian d'Agata
Bright, dark ruby. Sexy aromas of tangy dark berries, Oriental spices and cocoa powder. Initially creamy in the mouth, with flavors of blackberry, coffee and cocoa, then turns dry and tannic on the long finish. This boasts plenty of fruit and verve, and time may help it come around, but I can't help but wonder if it hasn't been overextracted. I hope that time proves me wrong.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The 2010 Clos l’Eglise is more closed and introverted on the nose compared to the previous vintage, but affording it 15-20 minutes in the glass, it reveals beguiling redcurrant, raspberry coulis, rose petal and crushed stone aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with a little more weight than the 2009. This is vibrant and surprisingly spicy, a liberal sprinkling of black pepper towards the finish that fans out wonderfully. This is just outstanding, a high-point for this Pomerol estate. Tasted at the Clos l’Eglise vertical.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The 2010 Clos l’Eglise has a slightly reductive nose that soon blows off to reveal ample red and black fruit melted tar and black truffle scents. The palate is velvety smooth on the entry, displaying a fine bead of acidity and supremely well-integrated oak. This is a classy, seductive Pomerol that lingers long in the mouth. Superb. Tasted blind at Farr Vintners 10-Year On Bordeaux horizontal.
Reviewed by: Stephen Tanzer
Good bright, deep red. Crystallized black raspberry, cherry, bitter chocolate and graphite minerality on the expressive nose. Dense, sweet and very deep, with hugely rich flavors of red and darker berries, espresso and bitter chocolate. As creamy as this is, there's no shortage of energy or underlying tannic support. Very long and lush on the finish. A great vintage for this property, but this will probably be best over the next 15 years.
Reviewed by: James Suckling
The quality of the tannins in this young red is superb, with a texture of velvet. Full and yummy.
Reviewed by: James Suckling
The quality of the tannins in this young red is superb, with a texture of velvet. Full and yummy.
Reviewed by: James Suckling
This is the Clos L’Eglise that takes it all to another level with incredible brightness and focus. Full-bodied yet racy and so long. It goes on for minutes with the violets, lavender and hot stones. Pomerol magic.
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