Clos l'Eglise 2022

Highly oak-influenced, with lots of oak that also dominates on the palate and leads to a dry finish.

The 2022 Clos l'Eglise, which contains 30% Cabernet Franc, needed a few minutes to open in the glass. It is a little tighter than its stablemate, Barde Haut, also owned by the Garçin-Léveques. The nose features a black plum aroma and touches boysenberry. The palate is medium-bodied with a structured opening and a strong marine influence intermixed with a black olive tone. Patience is required, but it will be worth the wait.

Rich, lush, full-bodied, and deep, the wine is filled to the brim with layers of perfectly ripe, sweet, fleshy, dark red pit fruits, licorice, chocolate, espresso, and truffles. Unctuous, as well as energetic, with ample lift on the palate and a hint of salt that slides in at the end of the lengthy finish, this is simply fabulous. The wine blends 70% Merlot with 30% Cabernet Franc, making this the highest percentage of Cabernet Franc ever used in the blend, a trend I hope they continue. Drink from 2027-2055.

Another beautifully textured, ripe, sexy wine from the Gracin family, the 2022 Clos L'Eglise comes from deeper clay soils on the upper plateau in Pomerol. Blue fruits, ripe black raspberries, leafy tobacco, chocolate, and truffly earth notes all shine here, and this beauty is full-bodied and has a layered, plush, sexy style that's already hard to resist. Nevertheless, it will evolve for 25+ years if well stored.

98% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc. Intensely blueberry-scented bouquet, licorice and elderberry juice. On the generous palate with a creamy texture, wonderful extract richness, tightly knit tannin framework and medium body. In the straight, taut finish, the Pomerol slims down, dark graphite and finely crumbly astringency, rounded off.

Concentrated, quick build-up of tannins through the palate, clear complexity and nuance; this is an enjoyable wine with the Pomerol magic of being approachable soon yet with the structure to age for decades. Black truffle, cocoa bean, damson, cassis. A 4.37ha estate on the northern part of the plateau, owned by Hélène Garcin-Lévêque since 1997. 3.75 ph.

The freshness shown by Clos l’Eglise 2022 confirms the overall trend, even in the hot, dry context of the vintage. Beyond the freshness, the bouquet reveals notes of licorice and black berries, complemented by sweet spices. On the palate, the wine is linear, dense, and driven by powerful tannins in tune with refreshing tension. The latter is underscored by fine bitters that also lengthen the finish. A wine of character that will reward patience!

Very dark colour. Highly aromatic nose, fruity, pure, ripe, fresh and subtle. Grace in the touch runs through this wine from start to finish; it is broad and velvety, its body melts on the palate. The whole evolves with precision towards a long, complex finish. It’s superb. For the first time, Clos l'Eglise contains 30% Cabernet Franc (+ 70% Merlot). Alcohol: 15% – pH: 3.75. Yield: 26 hl/ha.

Red-berry aromas and firm, young tannins dominate this wine. Structured with dense black fruits, it is solid, needing time to soften. Drink from 2026.