Ch.Clos L'Eglise 2000 750ml

Wine Advocate # 189 (Jun 2010)
Seven years ago I said this was a monumental wine, and at two different recent tastings, it was a true star of the vintage. Its stunning dark plum color offers up notes of caramelized red and black fruits, toffee, smoke, Asian plum sauce, sweet cherries, chocolate, and espresso. Its spectacular aromatics do not disappoint on the palate, as this multi-dimensional, highly complex, opulent wine seems to have hit a magical point in its evolution. Full-bodied, and concentrated, there is no issue with drinking this dazzling effort now, but those who own it can certainly cellar it for another 15 or more years. Bravo!

The estate of Clos L’Eglise is one of the older chateaux in Pomerol dating all the way back to the 18th century. That is also when the farmhouse that is in use today was constructed. At the time, Chateau Clos L’Eglise was a larger estate. In fact, the property was at one time part of the Gombaude Guillot estate. Eventually the vast estate was split in half. On one side of the street, you had Chateau Clos l’Eglise, which was owned by the Rouchut family. Across the street sat Chateau Clos l’Eglise-Clinet, which was owned by the Mauleon family. In time, Chateau Clos l’Eglise Clinet eventually changed its name to Chateau l’Eglise Clinet.
The property shares a similar climate to that enjoyed by both St.Emilion & Pomerol: more continental than the maritime Médoc with generally more spring rainfall, though less in summer & winter. Its vineyards (Merlot 57%; Cabernet Franc 36%; Cabernet Sauvignon 7%) lie on sandy-gravel topsoils, underpinned by a hard-pan clay subsoil. Fermentation in wooden vats before 24 months of maturation in new oak barrels.

Meats, Beef and Venison