La Petite Eglise (2nd label Eglise Clinet) 2012

The second wine from Denis Durantou is pure Merlot from gravel soils that was picked from 6th until the 8th October and there is less volume than last year. The bouquet is certainly more bashful than the 2011 - like the Montlandrie, you must coax the aromas from the glass: wild hedgerow, black fruit and even a touch of cedar. The palate is medium-bodied with a supple core of pure red berry fruit mingling with minerals - a stony character to this wine - very expressive and animated. The finish is refined and displays superb length for a second wine. If I taste a better value Right Bank wine, I would be astonished. Tasted April 2013.

100% Merlot on gravel, 50% new oak; volume down on last year. Darkest crimson with opaque core. Sweet red cherry. Much sweeter and more red-fruited than the Montlandrie. Juicier too and fruit forward. Papery texture. Juicy fruit escapes around the dry tannins like a river round the rocks. (JH)

The nose has lots of ripe fruit and the rich black plum gives a fleshy suppleness on the palate. There is a balancing freshness some bramble and black cherry the layers of fruits giving lots of complexity and an attractive stylish finish. 2018-35.

When your second wine tastes as good as this, you can imagine how special the grand vinis. (See my note for L'Eglise-Clinet.) Sourced from gravel soils, this is lighter in style, butwith the fruit purity and balance that typifies Denis Durantou's reds. Structured and long,this shows delicious flavours of plum, liquorice and fine, vanilla-scented oak. Likely to be abargain, on past form.Drink: 2020-35