Wine Advisor
Clos L'Eglise Pomerol 2018
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Lisa Perrotti-Brown
The 2018 Clos l'Eglise is a blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc. Deep garnet-purple colored, it comes bounding out of the glass with energetic scents of Morello cherries, fresh black plums, boysenberries and lavender, plus underlying nuances of crushed rocks, woodsmoke and black truffles. The full-bodied palate is packed with perfumed black fruit, supported by ripe, velvety tannins and tons of freshness, finishing on a lingering fragrant earth note.
Reviewed by: Lisa Perrotti-Brown
The 2018 Clos l'Eglise is a final blend composed of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc; the Merlot was harvested September 19-20, and the Cabernet Franc was harvested on October 10. Deep garnet-purple colored, it explodes on the nose with bold, expressive plum preserves, blueberry compote, mincemeat pie and sandalwood with nuances of lilacs, woodsmoke, Indian spices and dusty soil. Full-bodied, rich, velvety and decadently fruited in the mouth, it offers layer upon layer of voluptuous fruit, finishing long and spicy.
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
The 2018 Clos L'Eglise is dense and powerful to the core. The tannins are equally forbidding, suggesting the 2018 is going to need a number of years to be at its best. Heat and mildew resulted in an unusually deep Clos L'Eglise. Dark cherry, plum, mocha, licorice, spice and gravel open with a bit of coaxing. Readers have to be patient here.
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
The 2018 Clos L'Eglise is a powerful, brooding wine with a huge core of super-ripe, dense fruit and equally imposing tannins. In 2018, heat and mildew impacted yields and resulted in a big, rich wine. Dark cherry, graphite, plum, mineral, spice and licorice add to an impression of brooding power. It will be interesting to see what élevage does here. Today, Clos L'Eglise is a real powerhouse. The blend is 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
Just a few weeks after my round of in-bottle tastings, the 2018 Clos l’Eglise replicates its performance at the property. The bouquet is bright and vivacious with raspberry and crushed strawberry, those mocha, dark chocolate and espresso scents present but politely waiting in the background. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins. The acidity is well judged with a smooth, velvety texture that fans out confidently towards the finish. I suspect this will drink in its youth, but it has the substance to age. Tasted at the Clos l’Eglise vertical.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The 2018 Clos l’Eglise has an open, expressive bouquet of brambly red fruit, crushed strawberry and raspberry, intermixed with dark chocolate and espresso scents. It certainly repays 90 minutes to really open. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grained and quite strict tannins that lend it more linearity than the Barde-Haut tasted alongside (also owned by the Garcin-Lévêque family). Black pepper and clove remain present on the finish and there is a persistent spicy aftertaste. This is a classy Pomerol, but it will require 3–4 years in bottle.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The 2018 Clos l’Eglise has a different fruit profile to the Barde-Haut tasted alongside, as one might expect comparing Pomerol against Saint-Émilion. Here one finds more red fruit, raspberry and wild strawberry intermingling with blackberry and cassis fruit. The new oak (80%) is nicely integrated here. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins. There is plenty of rondeur in this Pomerol, black truffle filtering through the blackberry fruit with a dash of cracked black pepper and clove towards the finish. This has always the hallmarks of classic Pomerol and it might drink earlier than the Barde-Haut.
Reviewed by: James Suckling
Fantastic depth of fruit to this young wine with crushed-berry, tile and stone character. Full-bodied with superb structure. Polished yet intense tannins. Powerful finish. Best ever?
Reviewed by: James Suckling
A round-textured and layered young Pomerol with berry, plum, chocolate and hazelnut aromas and flavors. It’s full-bodied, plush and luscious on so many levels. Try after 2026, when it tightens up.
