L'Eglise Clinet 1999

The 1999 l’Eglise-Clinet is youthful in appearance with thin bricking on the rim. The bouquet is very attractive with scents of Dorset plum, wild strawberry, truffle and a touch of warm brick, all nicely defined. The palate is well balanced and underpinned by a fine thread of acidity, demonstrating a little more fruit intensity than its peers, with a finish not a million miles away from the superb 1999 Lafleur. This off-vintage l’Eglise-Clinet is frankly not far away in quality from more lauded vintages. Excellent.

Pretty wine. Very attractive aromas of violets, raspberries and minerals. Full-bodied, with a solid core of fruit and supersilky tannins. Medium finish. Best after 2004. 1040 cases made.

Like Lafleur ’99 up the road, the Chateau l’Eglise-Clinet ’99 is in a very good place at the moment. Here, it has a lucid deep garnet colour that hardly appears to have aged in the last two years. The bouquet is captivating with scents of dark plum, wild strawberry, hints of black truffle and cold stones that are well defined. The palate is very well balanced with a keen thread of acidity. It is sensual and generous in the mouth – uncommon for a 1999 – with a finish that appears more powerful than my last encounter. This is a supreme Pomerol for the vintage. Drink 2014-2030. Tasted October 2012.

The 1999 l'Eglise Clinet has evolved beautifully since tasted last year. This is one of the stars of the vintage. It is an extraordinary expression of elegance married to power. An opaque purple color is followed by aromas of black raspberries, currants, licorice, graphite, truffles, and earth. The wine is sweet and expansive. It is a model of purity, symmetry, and balance. Moderate tannin suggests 4-5 years of cellaring is required. Anticipated maturity: 2005-2025.