1990 L'Eglise Clinet
By Chateau L'Eglise Clinet
1990 L'Eglise Clinet from Chateau L'Eglise Clinet, Pomerol, Bordeaux
Embarking upon a retrospective journey into the exceptional 1990 Bordeaux vintage, we discover the compelling 1990 L'Eglise Clinet from Chateau L'Eglise Clinet, a resounding emblem of the Pomerol appellation. This year was marked by an early bud break and continued with a propitious blend of climatic events, leading to a harvest that has enshrined the vintage in enological lore.
Exquisite Harmony: The 1990 Vintage
When we speak of equilibrium in vinous terms, it's the marriage of power and elegance; where tannins finesse their way through ripe fruit without overshadowing. The 1990 L'Eglise Clinet achieves this with an enviable poise that has only magnified through the decades. Now, at its apogee, it bewitches with a constellation of complex aromas - truffle, cigar box, cherry liqueur, and hints of iron-rich earth.
The Investment Merit
The ever-evolving narrative of fine wine investing recognises certain landmark vintages as pivotal acquisitions. A bottle of 1990 L'Eglise Clinet from Chateau L'Eglise Clinet represents more than just a consumable luxury; it's an opportunity to hold a piece of Bordeaux's storied winemaking history. With its limited availability and sustained demand among connoisseurs and collectors, it is an exemplary addition to any portfolio looking to blend cultural richness with potential financial reward.
In this vintage lies the essential tale of Pomerol’s exceptional terroir - a tiny appellation yielding a profoundly influential treasure. The wine now presents mature notes that speak eloquently of its provenance; sous bois melds with autumnal fruit compote and wisps of violet — a tapestry woven by time.
In conclusion, the 1990 L'Eglise Clinet represents a benchmark within the annals of wine investment - one where rarity and pedigree meet in liquid form. For those seeking to diversify their assets with tangible luxury, this thoroughbred from Chateau L'Eglise Clinet speaks volumes without uttering a word.
Market price (GBP)
£3,180.00
12x75cl
Highest score
92
POP score
265
Scores and tasting notes
Tasted single blind at FINE magazine's vertical in Dusseldorf. This has a very lifted bouquet with mint, sage, ox-blood and iron filings. Very lifted but lacking a sense of authenticity. The palate is medium-bodied, quite fleshy on the entry, notes of mocha and espresso interlacing the masculine tannic structure. Broody but well defined with a lovely off-dry finish that just lacks a little complexity. Still lovely. Tasted February 2011.
Neal Martin - Wine Journal May 2011
The 1990 Château L'Eglise-Clinet is probably outshone by the superior 1989 these days, but as I remarked during this tasting, the difference between the two is less obvious than that of Vieux-Château-Certan. It has a more floral bouquet, the crushed violets more conspicuous and neatly folded into the mulberry and red plum fruit. I notice how its ferrous core becomes more obvious as it opens up. The palate, like the 1989, is remarkably structured and quite masculine for this vintage, gently gripping the mouth and leaving a residue of cedar and dark chocolate in its wake. You might be inclined to afford this 3-4 years more in bottle, although I will not dial 999 (or 911) if you find yourself opening a bottle now. Tasted January 2016.
Neal Martin - The Wine Advocate, 28 July 2016
Offering sweet black currant liqueur, loamy soil, truffle, caramel, and spice notes, this medium to full-bodied, fleshy, low acid, fully mature 1990 can be enjoyed now and over the next decade. Release price: ($510.00/case)
Robert Parker Jr - Wine Advocate #183 June 2009