2010 L'Eglise Clinet
By Chateau L'Eglise Clinet
2010 L'Eglise Clinet from Chateau L'Eglise Clinet, Pomerol, Bordeaux
In the constellation of stellar vintages from Bordeaux, few shine as brightly as the 2010 L'Eglise Clinet from Chateau L'Eglise Clinet. This particular year is etched into the memory of connoisseurs and investors alike; a vintage that exemplifies the pinnacle of Pomerol's capabilities.
A Vintage That Speaks Volumes
Under the scrupulous stewardship of Denis Durantou, the 2010 vintage gestated in a harmonious dance between nature and vigneron artistry. This was a season that defied expectations, with an ideal amalgamation of conditions—a temperate spring followed by a measured summer crescendo and timely, decisive harvest—allowing for a wine of profound structure and age-worthy poise.
Terrain and Temprament
The terroir at Chateau L'Eglise Clinet is distinctive, a melange of gravel and clay that bestows upon its vines a unique mineral tension. The 2010 iteration capitalises on this innate strength, churning it into an astonishing complexity in the glass. Indeed, to sip this wine is to traverse Pomerol’s hallowed soils with every nuanced swallow.
That being said, what sets the 2010 vintage apiece lies not merely in its superb lineage but also in its remarkable display of concentration and elegance—a dichotomy rarely so beautifully balanced. Layers unravel with grace: dark cherries, cassis, and truffles commingle with subtler hints of violet and cigar box after thoughtful decanting.
An Investment Wine with Longevity
The discerning investor may note that the 2010 L'Eglise Clinet stands out as one of the estate’s most formidable offerings. Its tannins, still assertive yet impeccably polished, suggest an expedition ahead that will traverse decades gracefully. An asset in any portfolio, its maturation trajectory promises further revelations for those with the patience to await its peak.
Chateau L'Eglise Clinet's 2010 vintage undoubtedly ranks amongst the most pivotal releases from this lauded estate and occupies an enviable position on Pomerol’s vinous landscape. For enthusiasts and strategic collectors alike, it is a beacon, illuminating both the storied past of this winemaking haven and the burgeoning potential still caressed within its earthen vessel.
Market price (CAD)
$4,890.00
12x75cl
Highest score
100
POP score
147
Scores and tasting notes
Deep garnet colored, the 2010 L'Eglise Clinet begins unassumingly with gentle notions of fragrant dried flowers and wild sage leading to savory nut and meat characters over an expanding core of preserved plums, blueberry compote and black cherry coulis plus a waft of menthol. Full-bodied, concentrated and wonderfully decadent, the palate is absolutely packed with rich, ripe black fruit preserves and loads of spicy sparks, framed by super ripe, super plush tannins, finishing very long and decadent. I love the interplay of subtly and power here - this is truly a WOW wine!
Lisa Perrotti-Brown - The Wine Advocate, 5 March 2020
Tasted at the property, the L’Eglise-Clinet 2010 was absolutely stunning from barrel and in bottle, Denis Durantou’s tour de force does not disappoint. It is imbued with an effortless quality on the nose: briary, raspberry preserve, crushed stone and just a hint of cassis. It is a linear nose – not extravagant or powerful – but very expressive of its terroir. The palate is medium-bodied with unbelievable intensity (not concentration) on the entry, the flavours almost regimented in their precision: fresh strawberry, raspberry, a hint of graphite and a touch of orange peel. It is so fresh, so animated and energetic that you want to keep taking sip after sip. This is a monumental L’Eglise-Clinet – quite profound. Tasted November 2012.
Neal Martin - Wine Journal Mar 2013
Sweet berries with hints of incense and spices on the nose with black truffles. Very ripe but not over-the-top. This is full-bodied, with chewy tannins and a smoky wood and mushroom undertone. It's dense and impressive yet very balanced. I like it, slightly better quality than the 2009. Give the wine five or six years of bottle age to soften before opening.
James Suckling - jamessuckling.com, November 14th 2013
This wine will likely be a major superstar with about 10-15 years of cellaring. It was one of the more closed and difficult wines to penetrate and one of probably only a dozen or so 2010s that I only had one chance to taste from bottle, but it is loaded with fabulous raw materials. The 2010 is a profound effort, but it needs to be forgotten for at least a decade. This opaque purple wine offers up notes of caramelized black currant and black cherry candies intermixed with some very high class, subtle vanillin and toast. Hints of licorice, mocha and perhaps even a touch of chocolate are also present in this full-bodied, super-duper, concentrated, classic wine, which has everything in perfect proportions. But in the finish, its whoppingly big tannins kick in and basically announce that drinking this wine now would be infanticide. Look for this wine to last for at least 50+ years.
Proprietor Denis Durantou has been on a hot streak, and is one of those perfectionist proprietors who seems tortured by their compulsion to do everything so well. Believe me, as a wine drinker, you want people like Durantou making the wines!
Robert Parker Jr - Wine Advocate #194 May 2011