Clos L’Eglise 2020

Clos l’Eglise is a richly concentrated, powerful, age-worthy Pomerol run by husband and wife team, Hélène Garcin and Patrice Lévèque.  Patrice is an impassioned vigneron and Hélène is a gifted businesswoman. Together, they are a powerhouse couple who has managed to take not only Clos l’Eglise, but their other properties such as the Saint-Émilion Grand Crus Classés estate, Château Barde Haut to new heights.  Clos l’Eglise is a serious Pomerol, with ample fruit qualities coupled with intense power and concentration.  The wine is ageable, and unlike a lot of other Pomerols, requires a bit of time before it can be enjoyed.  With its gorgeous cedar-like aromas and velvety tannins, we can assure you this wine is well-worth the wait.

Clos l’Eglise is one of the older estates in Pomerol, and origins of the estate go all the way back to the 18th Century. The property was once a part of the vast Gombaude Guillot Estate, which was sectioned off throughout the decades. Eventually, Clos l’Eglise was split into a 14 hectare property that was divided once more by a road.  On one side of the road lay Clos l’Eglise, and on the other side lay what is now a property associated with the legendary deceased legend, Denis Durantou.  That property is known as L’Eglise Clinet.  In the 20th Century, Clos l’Eglise was acquired by Sylviane Garcin-Cathiard.  Sylviane was the little sister of the Château Smith Haut-Lafite located in the Pessac-Léognan portion of the Left Bank.  Sylviane purchased the property for the hefty sum of 12 million euros, which was considered a record at the time.  Additional funds were needed to make improvements to the vat room, and the older concrete vats were modernized.  The property is presently managed by Helene Garcin and her husband, Patrice.  Helene has a great business acumen and makes some intelligent hiring decisions such as hiring Michelle Rolland and Alain Reynaud to consult on the vintages.

Clos l’Eglise has luminous neighbors, such as Château Trotanoy and Château Vieux Château Certan.  The impressive terroir of this 5.89 hectare property is filled with rich clay and gravel with a heavy iron concentration, yielding an intense and powerful wine.  Initially, the property had a healthy percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon, but that varietal was removed in favor of the star of the region, Merlot.  Today, the vineyard is planted with 70% Merlot and 30 Percent Cabernet Franc.  At this property, vigneron Patrice Lévèque treats the vines like they are his children, and respect is at the forefront of everything they do here.  Clos l’Eglise does not believe in producing wines to satisfy a demand, instead they produce wines because they want to capture the unique aspects of the terroir in this special place.  The vines are sustainably and organically farmed, and Clos l’Eglise has the High Environmental Value Certification of 3.  The majority of the vines here are 35 years old and are hand-picked each harvest. The wine is then aged in 100% new French Oak prior to being bottled.   

"Very deep purple-black colored, the 2020 Clos l'Eglise leaps from the glass with vivacious notes of crushed black cherries, redcurrant jelly and ripe, juicy blackberries, leading to an undercurrent of camphor, graphite and cedar chest, plus a touch of crushed rocks. The medium to full-bodied palate is bursting with ripe black fruits, supported by rounded, approachable tannins and seamless freshness, finishing on a persistent mineral note." Lisa Perotti-Brown, May 2021 Week 3: The Wine Advocate (05/20/2021) Rating: 93-95 Drink: 2025-2049

"A real “wow” wine, the 2020 Clos L'Eglise sports deep ruby hue as well as an absolutely stunning bouquet of black cherries, red plums, damp earth, chocolate, truffle, and lead pencil. This deep, full-bodied, concentrated, beauty has that classic Pomerol opulence and richness paired with an incredible sense of elegance. The tannins are perfectly ripe as well. Give bottles just 4-5 years, and it's going to age beautifully. This is the finest wine I've tasted from the Garcin-Lévêque family, surpassing both the 2009 and 2016. Don't miss it." Jeb Dunnuck, Bordeaux 2020: En Primeur, (03/29/2023) Rating: 99 Drink: 2027-2057

"Inky ruby colour, a muscular big-styled Pomerol which will win plenty of friends. Velvety tannins, great persistency, confident, contemporary and deftly walks the line between concentrated and nuanced." Jane Anson, Decanter, En Primeur Rating: 94 Drink: 2028-2040

"The 2020 Clos L'Eglise is outrageously vivid and hauntingly beautiful. Inky red fruit, wild flowers, mint and rose petal come alive in the glass, all framed by powerful yet well-balanced tannins. Although the 2020 is a young, structured wine, its balance is absolutely impeccable. I can't wait to taste it from bottle. It is a super showing from Hélène Garcin and Patrice Lévêque." Antonio Galoni, Vinous (June 2021) Rating: 95-97

''Aromas of ripe plums and raspberries mingled with hints of rose petals and toasty new oak preface the 2020 Clos l'Eglise, a medium to full-bodied, velvety and enveloping wine with a broad attack that segues into a fleshy core of fruit, with powdery extract asserting itself on the youthfully chewy finish.'' William Kelley, The Wine Advocate (4/06/2023) Ratings: 93 Drink: 2025-2045