Clos L'Eglise Pomerol 1999
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 1999 Clos l'Eglise was over-shadowed by the feted 1998 at the time, but now with 16 years on the clock, it is really turning into a delightful Pomerol. There is only a touch of maturity on the rim, while the nose is generous: hints of fig infusing the laid-back red berry fruit. It's like a friendly aunt inviting you in the front door. The palate appears now fully mature, but there remains plenty of brambly, almost confit-like fruit to enjoy, supple in the mouth with a fine line of acidity, leather and cedar notes coming through on the finish that is just beginning to show dryness. Enjoy this Pomerol over the next 4-5 years, but probably not longer. Tasted June 2015.
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Wine Spectator
Offers exotic aromas of crushed berries, with fresh herbs and wet leaves. Full-bodied, featuring velvety tannins and a fruity finish. Silky tannins butter the fruit and the toasty oak. No reason to wait, but will improve with age.—'89/'99 Bordeaux blind retrospective (2009).
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In the 18th century, Clos L'Eglise with its 14 hectares was considered to be a very big domaine for Pomerol, ahead of about a dozen great wines which formed – and still form –the heart of Pomerol. The estate subsequently took the name of Clos L'Eglise. However, following succession problems, it was split into two with, on the one side, the original Clos L'Eglise (Rouchut family) and on the other, Clos L'Eglise-Clinet (Mauléon family). Clos L'Eglise therefore has a continuous wine-producing tradition spread of several centuries.
It is the soil which gives a great wine its personality and it is the efforts of Sylviane Garcin-Cathiard that have developed it fully. She took over the property in January 1997, and using her experience at Chateau Haut-Bergey in Pessac-Léognan, she completely reorganized the chai.
The soil is composed of clay and gravel, with iron deposits, which gives Pomerol its distinctive character. Situated on the slope of a hill, most of the vineyard stretches to the south-west of the building, at the break of the famous Pomerol plateau. It covers an area of 6 hectares. The vineyard is composed of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc (or Bouchet).
The wine is made according to traditional methods.
One of the world’s most classic and popular styles of red wine, Bordeaux-inspired blends have spread from their homeland in France to nearly every corner of the New World. Typically based on either Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot and supported by Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, the best of these are densely hued, fragrant, full of fruit and boast a structure that begs for cellar time. Somm Secret—Blends from Bordeaux are generally earthier compared to those from the New World, which tend to be fruit-dominant.
A source of exceptionally sensual and glamorous red wines, Pomerol is actually a rather small appellation in an unassuming countryside. It sits on a plateau immediately northeast of the city of Libourne on the right bank of the Dordogne River. Pomerol and St-Émilion are the stars of what is referred to as Right Bank Bordeaux: Merlot-dominant red blends completed by various amounts of Cabernet Franc or Cabernet Sauvignon. While Pomerol has no official classification system, its best wines are some of the world’s most sought after.
Historically Pomerol attached itself to the larger and more picturesque neighboring region of St-Émilion until the late 1800s when discerning French consumers began to recognize the quality and distinction of Pomerol on its own. Its popularity spread to northern Europe in the early 1900s.
After some notable vintages of the 1940s, the Pomerol producer, Petrus, began to achieve great international attention and brought widespread recognition to the appellation. Its subsequent distribution by the successful Libourne merchant, Jean-Pierre Mouiex, magnified Pomerol's fame after the Second World War.
Perfect for Merlot, the soils of Pomerol—clay on top of well-drained subsoil—help to create wines capable of displaying an unprecedented concentration of color and flavor.
The best Pomerol wines will be intensely hued, with qualities of fresh wild berries, dried fig or concentrated black plum preserves. Aromas may be of forest floor, sifted cocoa powder, anise, exotic spice or toasted sugar and will have a silky, smooth but intense texture.