Helen Arvanitopoulos

9.0

Beautiful Bordeaux. Enjoyed this with snags and mash on a Sunday for lunch. — 7 months ago

Natalie Wabich

8.9

Tasty French white from Chapman tasty. Not a typical Chardonnay. — 3 years ago

Daniel M

8.9

Easy going champagne with a very vinous palate, with acid and a nice bready and lemony note and subtle bubbles and a silky layer on the sides. Aperitive champagne par excellence ! — 4 years ago

Alexandre Pagliano

9.2

Velvet velvet velvet.
This is the utmost in finesse. Ethereal wine. Not a lot of body and many might think its lean. I find it really excellent and its a Pomerol with Lafitte like tannins, drink or hold, your choice. Highly recommended. — 5 years ago

with Adriana

Jake Coursen

9.0

Was very tight. Opened up after about 45 minutes. An elegant honest wine. Would love to try again. — 6 years ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

3000th post. 🎉 On the nose; sweet, lush; black cassis, liqueur notes, sweet tarry notes, rich, lush; blackberries, dark cherries, black plum, plum, caramel, mocha, caramel, baking spices, warm, moist, rich, dark soils and fresh dark florals. The body is M and the tannins are round and soft. She is a beauty. Ripe, rich; blackberries, black plum, plum, dark cherries, black raspberries & poached strawberries. liqueur notes, sweet tarry notes, dark chocolate, mocha, caramel, baking spices, menthol, warm, moist dark earth, soft leather, dry rock powder, sweet black tea, fresh violets, dark, red florals, perfect round acidity and a rich, round, elegant fruit driven finish that last and lasts. Photos of; Clos E'Lgise and estate vines, signage, Helen Garcin-Leveque and her husband Patrice Leveque and their barrel cellar. Producer history and notes...Clos L’Eglise is one of the older chateaux in Pomerol dating back to the 18th century. The same time the farmhouse that is still in use was constructed. At the time, Chateau Clos L’Eglise was a larger estate. It once had been apart of the Gombaude Guillot. Eventually the estate was split in half. On one side of the street, you had Chateau Clos l’Eglise; which was owned by the Rouchut family. Across the street sat Chateau Clos l’Eglise-Clinet, which was owned by the Mauleon family. After awhile, Clos l’Eglise Clinet eventually changed its name to Chateau l’Eglise Clinet which also simultaneously gave birth to what we know today as Clos L’Eglise. While the wines are now produced by Helene Garcin that was not always the case with Clos L’Eglise. At one point, the estate produced wines under a leasing arrangement held by the Rouchut family. The modern era of Clos L’Eglise began in 1975, when the property facilities were all redesigned and modernized by the Moreau family. The Moreau’s also owned Chateau Plince. The old, non temperature controlled wood tanks were replaced by stainless steel. The vineyards were also expanded. Instead of buying more vines, the owners simply planted land that was being used as a pasture. Imagine now, Pomerol land being used to feed cattle. In the past, the property was planted with a much larger percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon, near 20%. All the Cabernet Sauvignon vines were eventually ripped out and replaced by Merlot. The next step of it's evolution took place in 1997 when the Right Bank estate was sold to Sylvaine Garcin Cathiard by the Moreau family. If the Cathiard name sounds family, she is the sister of Daniel Cathiard, the owner of Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte. The sale set a new benchmark price for Pomerol when it sold for 12 million Euros! Today that price would be laughable! Prior to 2000, that was considered a huge price for Pomerol. Further investment was needed to replace the aging concrete vats and again modernize the facilities. In fact, the first vintage of Clos L’Eglise made by Helene Garcin was produced at Haut Bergey in Pessac Leognan. Helene Garcin also manages two estates in St. Emilion, Chateau Barde Haut, Chateau Poesia (Mendoza, Argentina) and Branon, which is situated in Pessac Leognan. Helene Garcin was put in charge of the property. She hired Michel Rolland as a consultant and a complete renovation of the facilities took place. Michel Rolland was eventually replaced by Alain Raynaud. Starting with the 2015 vintage, Thomas Duclos recently replaced Alain as the consultant. Their property is nearly 6 hectares. L’Eglise soils are rich clay, gravel and iron. It's located on a sloping hill near Chateau Clinet, Chateau L’Eglise Clinet and Chateau Trotanoy. Clos L’Eglise is planted to 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc. On average, the vines are 35 years of age. There is one old parcel of Cabernet Franc that was planted in the 1940’s. Vinification of Clos L’Eglise takes place in 55 hectoliter, insulated, stainless steel tanks. The new steel tanks replaced the oak vats in 2012. Malolactic fermentation takes place in barrel. Clos L’Eglise is aged in 100% new French oak for between 16 and 18 months. The property also has a second wine, Esprit de L’Eglise. On average, about 1,200 cases of Clos L’Eglise are produced every year. — 7 years ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

The 07 Bordeaux’s have turned out better than critically reviewed young for many quality producers. I became aware of that in 2014 when I had the 07 Smith Haut-Lafitte at the property with beef stroganoff prepared by their chef at lunch. I wouldn’t hold the 07’s as long as I would hold many other vintages but drinking beautifully now.

Nose show’s floral, slightly ruby to baked fruits of; blackberries, black plum, dark cherries, strawberries, raspberries on the glass edge, touch of pomegranate, tobacco leaf, excellent, soft graphite, dark, rich, moist, forest floor with dry leaves, notes of steeped tea, touch of black licorice, wet clay, limestone minerals, mixed dark berry cola, vanillin, light, fresh herbaceous notes, understated cinnamon & nutmeg, gentle, dark spice, sandalwood with fresh & withering dark, blue, purple forals.

The palate/mouthfeel is ruby, lush and pretty. Crazy beautiful. Blackberries, black plum, dark cherries, strawberries, a touch of purple fruits, raspberries on the glass edge, touch of pomegranate, candied tarriness, tobacco leaf, excellent, soft graphite, dark, rich, moist, forest floor with dry leaves, saline, notes of steeped tea, touch of black licorice, wet clay, limestone minerals, dry soil, dry river stones, crushed rocks, mixed dark berry & cherry cola, red licorice, vanillin, light, fresh herbaceous notes, understated cinnamon & nutmeg, gentle, dark spice, sandalwood with fresh & withering dark, blue, purple forals. Beautiful acidity. The lush finish is well balanced, nice structure even mix of fruit & earth and lasts two-minutes.

Great pair with the Allen Brothers Cowgirl Bone-in Ribeye.

Photos of Chateau Pape Clement’s magnificent property. — a year ago

Ammo

9.0

Soft round almost chewy. Summer peaches. — 5 years ago

Pierre Gourinchas

9.4

This is outstanding. Quite a revelation. Honeyed, citrus, ample in the mouth and a very long finale. A steal. — 6 years ago

Alex Lallos

Owner No Limit Fine Wines, Private Wine Consultant

9.6

Smith haut lafitte called..... they want their wine back. Omg I thought this would be good with clams but it actually needs about a decade (or two) to shed its baby fat. Incredible wine... serious wine..: — 6 years ago

Tomi Mikkonen

9.2

2004 Millesime. Random-ostos Carrefourista, mutta niin hieno 2x EUR löytö. Vahva lähtö, mutta lyhyt loppu. Paljon luonnetta. Ostan uudelleen, jos löydän jostain. — 7 years ago

Martijn

9.0

This is simply good champagne. Already for 10 years we drink this as aperative. Nice beads, good color, citrus and brioche. Well balanced. Good PQR. — 7 years ago

Carter White

9.1

Very savory, underbrush, herbs, and pencil shavings, with dried red fruit. Interesting cus apparently this hasn’t seen any oak. Medium body, fine tannins, and nice lift. — 2 years ago

Matthew Bull

9.0

Oh the joy. — 3 years ago

Jordi Pazo

8.9

Rest. Massana, Girona. Maridatge de Vins. 52,00.
01.02.20 — 4 years ago

Joshua Dalton

9.5

Excellent champagne — 5 years ago

Melanie Maisey

9.7

Deliciously sweet rosé with grapefruit overtones and hints of peach. Think summer afternoons by the pool, or at a barbecue. — 6 years ago

Patricia Schnitzer

9.0

Nov 26, 2017. Purchased in Bordeaux at Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte tasting. Had tonight with cheese plate. Yum. Honey, apricots. — 7 years ago

Ashley Martzen

9.1

Ultra-dry, harrowing. Almost too lonely. Imma still drank it. — 7 years ago

Jerrold Cameron

8.9

Light and disappeared super fast.
— 7 years ago