Clos l'Eglise 2017

Features a ripe, fresh core of plum and red currant fruit, lined with anise and sweet tobacco notes. A singed apple wood accent enlivens the finish. Solid. Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2021 through 2033. 1,000 cases made.

25% frosted but no second generation fruit used. The grapes here are planted on the deep gravels of the Pomerol plateau, and it has definitely come out of the difficult early season strongly. It's extremely powerful, and very complex in its dark fruit and menthol layering, with a tight tannic structure and an austere character - this is not a vintage for hedonists like 2015 was but is a serious wine with good ageing ability.

Aromas of wild red fruit, green leaves and herbs, as well as cedary oak. The palate has a supple, fresh feel with a wealth of plush, smoothly arranged tannins on offer. This is a bold Pomerol with plenty to offer now. Better in six-plus years.

The 2017 Clos L'Eglise has really developed nicely during its élevage. Blackberry jam, chocolate, spice, new leather and licorice give the 2017 much of its rich, flamboyant intensity and textural richness. Notes of red cherry, red plum, blood orange, sage and mint add complexity. Even with all of its richness, the 2017 preserves terrific energy and a real sense of vibrancy.

Dark chocolate, plum and truffle notes are the first things you notice. Full-bodied, lush, rich, ripe and fresh, the wine offers plenty of minerality, cocoa and ripe, juicy plums. The wine was made from a blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc.

Blackcurrants, mocha, ground herbs, and hints of earth all emerge from the 2017 Clos L'Eglise, and it's a medium- to full-bodied, balanced, pure, layered Pomerol that does everything right in 2017. With ripe tannins, nicely integrated acidity, and beautiful balance, it's a classic, elegant effort to drink over the coming 10–15 years.

Dense purple garnet with lilac highlights. A concentrated red-berry bouquet of ripe raspberries and lingonberry juice, followed by sour cherries, violets and licorice. Dense on the palate with a tight tannic framework and a muscular body. The aromatic, long finish shows wild berries, a graphite note and dark plums – plenty of fruit, but also minerality and freshness. Can still improve!

Kunz Fassprobe 18: (97% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, 32 hl/ha) Velvety, finely mineral bouquet with black cherries, cedar, currants and a hint of liquorice. Elegant, silky palate with full fruit, fine tannins, a bold, sweet aromatic profile, a subtly creamy texture, and a long, aromatic finish. Still has room to improve.

(97% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, 32 hl/ha) Velvety, finely mineral bouquet with black cherries, cedar, currants and a subtle touch of liquorice. Elegant, silky palate with full fruit, fine tannins, a rich, sweet aromatic profile, a delicately creamy texture and a long, aromatic finish. Can still improve. 17/20 2024 - 2038

The 2017 Clos L'Eglise is deep garnet-purple in color. It slips sensuously out of the glass with delicate notes of warm red cherries, stewed plums, and raspberry leaves, plus hints of dried lavender, Provence herbs, and damp soil with a waft of black olives. Medium-bodied, refreshing, and elegant, it has a chewy texture in the mouth and a savory finish.

The bouquet of Clos l'Eglise first reveals fresh notes with a hint of eucalyptus, followed by black berries. On the palate, the wine fully embraces this freshness and pairs it with the voluptuous character of the tannins. In the end, the whole is balanced thanks to this symbiosis between freshness and charm. A pleasant tension on the finish ideally supports the aromatic expression. A wine that is a little less dense than usual, but sapid and already enjoyable to savor in its youth.

The nose is aromatic and offers subtle freshness. It reveals notes of blackberry, bell pepper and fine touches of blackcurrant, together with hints of sweet spices and toasted notes, as well as a very discreet touch of dark chocolate and fine hints of grey pepper. The palate is fresh, fruity and balanced, offering juiciness, good structure, straightness, a delicate tension, a clear guideline and a fine, silky feel. On the palate, this wine expresses notes of crushed blackcurrant and crushed blackberry, and, more lightly, red berries, with fine touches of blackcurrant bud/bulb, as well as subtle hints of blond tobacco and spices.

Dark, intense, and beautiful color. Very aromatic nose, fine, fruity, and subtle. Soft on the attack, the wine stands out for its precise, delicately creamy texture throughout the tasting. Fragrant mid-palate, it develops with savory depth and a long finish. It’s very good.

90–92. Barrel Sample. From a small estate, this wine offers delicious layers of ripe black plum and smoky tannins. It is rich, full, generous and already opulent. Drink from 2021.