La Petite Eglise (2nd label Eglise Clinet) 2020

A blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc, the 2020 La Petite Eglise is deep garnet-purple in color. It requires a lot of coaxing to unlock notions of baked plums, blackberry compote, and fruitcake, followed by hints of cardamom, black olives, and crushed rocks. The medium to full-bodied palate is densely laden with earth-laced black fruits, supported by firm, rugged tannins and just enough freshness, finishing long and earthy.

80% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc. Cask sample.Ripe and zesty with berry-fruit notes and a hint of chocolate and spice from the oak. Gourmand on the palate, again with vivid fruit. Finely etched tannins provide a neat rather than powerful structure. A real temptation in the short to medium term. (JL) 14.5%Drink 2024 – 2035

(80% M, 20% CF; 14.5% ABV; 50% new)Subtly black fruit-ripe to smell, discreet and with a touch of truffle and mineral; fullish, fresh, plump, and very fine in tannin; a touch oak-tinged to taste, but long and refined, complex, flowing, and yet with the close-grained quality of so many of this year’s best Pomerols; effortlessly graceful and complete wine with a beautiful fruit fragrance on a very long finish. There is a a subtlety and class here which mark this out as a very special expression of LPE. One of the best ever? 2026–40+.

The 2020 La Petite Eglise has opened up on the nose, more accessible than I envisaged, with brambly red fruit, brown spices, touches of shucked oyster shell in the background. There is a floral component that becomes more accentuated with aeration. The palate is voluptuous on the entry with saturated tannins that frame the pure black cherry and boysenberry fruit. Its opulence counterbalanced by quite potent salinity that defines the finish. This is very impressive and it will probably age more slowly than other vintages.

The 2020 La Petite Eglise is noticeably deep in color. It has a tightly wound bouquet, broody at first, unfurling to reveal blackberry, briar, touches of seaweed and light oyster shell aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with pliant tannins, a fine line of acidity and a silky-smooth, utterly harmonious finish. This is a sensual La Petite Eglise, pure and refined, almost pixelated. Outstanding.

Very fresh, perfumed aromas of blackberries, black olives and some white pepper. The palate is full and extremely polished with lovely depth and length. Lovely second wine. Serious.

The 2020 La Petite Eglise is a blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc. The Merlot was picked on the 9th and the 16th of September, and the Cabernet Franc was picked on the 16th of September. It has an alcohol of 14.5% and is aging in French oak barrels, 50% new. Deep garnet-purple colored, it leaps from the glass with bold notions of black raspberries, Black Forest cake and baked plums, plus hints of red roses, cardamom and forest floor. The medium to full-bodied palate possesses incredible poise at this youthful stage, delivering plush tannins and integrated freshness to support the generous black fruits, finishing long and full of energy. An anticipated 4,500 bottles will be made. 2024 - 2039

Noemie and Constance Duranou now in charge, with Noemie winemaker alongside Olivier Gautrat. This is rich and ripe led by raspberry fruits on the nose, a little subdued through the mid palate, plenty of weight to the tannins, but it still shows the precision that has been built up over many years of this wine. A yield of 42hl/ha, harvest from September 8.Drinking Window 2023 - 2040