L'Eglise Clinet 2017

Black core with purple crimson rim. A hint of oak char on the nose but underneath that is pure black fruit and a creamy character. Smooth and rounded on the palate, the fruit and the oak already well melded. The finish is darker and more savoury, the oak char closing the circle. But the harmony is very good. Not as charming as La Petite Église but longer-term in potential. Drink 2027-2037

Rich and ripe the nose has mix of sweet fruits the palate the supple fleshiness of ripe black plums. Depth of flavour in the middle the fruit backed by fine tannins the back palate has fleshy black plum the finish depth of flavour. 2025-38

Denis made 20% less wine in 2017 overall, but this was because of the drought rather than the frost, which did not affect his vines. He is determined to keep his alcohol levels down, shunning the high peaks in past vintages. He wants to make wines that ‘he can drink’. The attention now on acidity and purity. This vintage has a lower pH than 2015 but higher than 2016. L’Eglise Clinet has more tannins than in 2015, but it is much silkier. He now makes ‘Le vin de mon vignes’. This is a delicious wine with elements of previous vintages, like chocolate and bright, black cherry fruit, but the new identity of freshness and tone is electric.

medium to deep garnet-purple colored, the 2017 l'eglise clinet begins a little closed and broody, soon unfurling to reveal powerful notes of baked black plums, chocolate-covered cherries and blueberry preserves with hints of chargrill, mocha and aniseed plus a touch of tar. medium to full-bodied, the palate is a powerhouse of crunchy, vibrant black fruit, framed by wonderfully ripe, rounded tannins and oodles of freshness, finishing long and savory. bravo! 2024-2054.

The 2017 L’Eglise-Clinet was picked between 12 and 22 September, the Cabernet Franc coming in on the last day. Nothing was touched by the frost. It is matured in 70% new oak. Denis Durantou did not specify the exact quantity produced, “Just enough for my friends” according to his spec sheet! The bouquet is very succinct, perhaps more open than either the 2015 or 2016 at this early stage, extraordinarily pure with blackberry, wild strawberry, smoke and truffle. It just gets better and better as it opens in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, linear and focused, very fresh with pointed acidity. This is full of tension and poise, a touch of graphite emerging towards the finish that lingers in the mouth with superb salinité at the end. It completes a triumvirate for Denis Durantou after the 2015 and 2016s. Drink 2024 - 2050.

This really rolls on the palate with fantastic fruit and tannins. Full-bodied, structured and layered. Long, long finish. Impressive all the way.

A blend of 90% Merlot with 10% Cabernet Franc, the deep garnet-purple colored 2017 L'Eglise Clinet opens with crème de cassis, black forest cake and preserved plums notes with suggestions of underbrush, lilacs and star anise plus an invigorating spark of Bing cherries. Medium to full-bodied and built like a brick house with very firm, ripe tannins and very refreshing acidity supporting the tightly wound muscular fruit, it finishes with epic persistence and bags of energy. This will be extremely long lived!