2014 - L'Eglise-Clinet, Pomerol

The 2014 L'Eglise Clinet was tasted from a single bottle but from two glasses, each poured at different times before I arrived for the tasting. They were almost identical on the nose but the one poured later was more compact. It has a very pure bouquet with blackberry, myrtle, a touch of iris and a touch of garrigue (actually reminiscent of fynbos, the wild South African shrubland). The palate is medium-bodied with crisp tannin, a silver bead of acidity, wonderful precision and beguiling purity. This is an outstanding Pomerol for the vintage from Denis Durantou, sophisticated and classy, yet the bottom line is quintessentially Pomerol. Bravo Denis.

Stands among the top Pomerols in the lineup. Juicy, serious, more in the Lafleur than Le Pin camp in its Left Bank intellectual quality, with graphite and pencil lead showing a serious side despite heavy Merlot dominance in the blend, with a richer fleshier fruit coming through the mid palate, cassis, then raspberry, creme caramel, turmeric, clove. Just a beautiful wine. 70% new oak.

Tasted blind. First bottle: mid garnet, sweet fruited and still showing oak sweetness in mocha character on the nose; a suggestion of oxidation and rather drying on the finish. Second bottle: still a bit drying on the finish but more fruit so the tannins are better balanced. (JH)