L'Eglise Clinet 2016 (750ML)

98 Points, Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The 2016 L'Eglise Clinet has a medium to deep garnet-purple color with aromas of warm black cherries, mulberries and Black Forest cake slipping seductively from the glass plus nuances of rose hip tea, baking spices, fragrant soil and fallen leaves. Medium to full-bodied, it's wonderfully elegant in the mouth with fantastically plush tannins and seamless freshness, finishing very long and very perfumed. Beautiful!" 11/18

98 Points, Neal Martin, Vinous: "The 2016 L'Eglise-Clinet was matured in 80% new oak and bottled in mid-April 2018. Crystal clear in color, it has an equally crystal clear bouquet that is utterly seductive, featuring red cherries, wild strawberry, peony and iris flowers and a hint of bay leaf. You could sit and nose this all day. The balanced palate is medium-bodied and grippy in the mouth, displaying supple tannin and a perfect line of acidity. Again, there is a symmetry about this Pomerol that is utterly beguiling, and the persistence is up there with the very best. Simply put, this is one of the best L'Eglise-Clinet wines I have tasted in recent years. Stunning." 1/19

98 Points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous: "The 2016 L'Eglise-Clinet is glorious. Rich and ample on the palate, with striking depth, the 2016 has so much to offer. A rush of inky blue/purplish berry fruit, lavender, menthol and exotic spice grace this exquisite wine. The 2016 has tremendous richness and concentration, and yet is not ready to show all of its cards yet. Even so, the purity of flavors is simply tremendous. I will not be surprised if the 2016 turns out to be even better than this note suggests. At this stage, though, it is quite clearly one of the wines of the vintage. This is a fabulous showing from Denis Durantou." 1/19

98 Points, James Suckling: "The depth and beauty in the aromas really draw you in with black truffles, blackberries, crushed stones, violets and other flowers. Black olives, too. Full-bodied, super refined and structured with perfectly manicured tannins and a very, very long finish. It's full of soul and precision. Take a look after 2024." 2/19

"94-97 Points, Wine Spectator: ""A flash of spearmint gives this a fresh feel, while the core of raspberry and boysenberry fruit follows up quickly, carried by lively acidity. The long, fruitcake-filled finish keeps a sense of elegance. Very enticing."" 4/17"

100 Points, Jeb Dunnuck, www.jebdunnuck.com: "One of the monumental wines in the vintage is the 2016 Château Eglise Clinet from proprietor Denis Durantou. Based on 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc, this utterly perfect wine boasts a saturated purple color as well as an essence of Pomerol bouquet of ripe black cherries, blackcurrant liqueur, smoked tobacco, camphor, and graphite. Deep, full-bodied, incredibly powerful, and layered, yet always with class and balance, it offers a remarkable marriage of power and finesse. It's already sexy and seductive yet also a baby, and needs 7-8 years of cellaring. It should keep for 3-4 decades (probably longer), but why wait?" 2/19