Bordeaux chateau Eglise Clinet 3 magnums 2019

The Estate

Château l’Église Clinet — Pomerol’s Modern Icon

Château l’Église Clinet stands among Pomerol’s most celebrated estates, a modest 6-hectare jewel whose wines have achieved cult status among Bordeaux connoisseurs. Founded in the 18th century and revitalized under the Durantou family’s stewardship since 1982, the property has become synonymous with opulent, concentrated Merlot that rivals the appellation’s most expensive offerings. Denis Durantou’s meticulous approach to viticulture and winemaking has elevated l’Église Clinet into the pantheon of Right Bank legends, consistently producing wines of extraordinary depth and refinement.

The estate’s vineyards occupy prime terroir on Pomerol’s famed plateau, where old-vine Merlot thrives on the iron-rich clay soils that define the appellation’s greatest crus. Durantou’s philosophy combines traditional Bordeaux methods with modern precision, yielding wines of remarkable intensity and age-worthiness. This lot of three magnums represents an ideal format for collectors seeking both immediate pleasure and long-term cellaring potential.

This Lot

Available as 3 magnums — ideal for collectors and long-term cellaring.

Terroir & Grapes

The Iron-Rich Heart of Pomerol

L’Église Clinet’s 6 hectares are planted on Pomerol’s central plateau, where deep clay soils mixed with iron-rich gravel and crasse de fer create ideal conditions for Merlot cultivation. The vineyard’s average age of 50 years provides exceptional concentration and complexity, with some parcels dating to the 1930s contributing extraordinary depth to the final blend. This terroir, situated near Petrus and Lafleur, produces wines of uncommon power and elegance, balancing the appellation’s characteristic richness with remarkable freshness and mineral precision.

Vinification & Ageing

Artisanal Precision in Oak

Denis Durantou employs rigorous parcel selection and gentle extraction methods to preserve the fruit’s natural intensity while building structure for decades of evolution. Fermentation occurs in temperature-controlled concrete vats with extended maceration, followed by eighteen months of élevage in French oak barrels, typically 80–100% new depending on the vintage. The result is a wine that marries Pomerol’s signature voluptuousness with impressive architectural precision, neither overwhelmed by oak nor lacking in structural complexity.

Vintage Character

2019 — A Radiant Right Bank Triumph

The 2019 vintage delivered exceptional conditions across Bordeaux’s Right Bank, with a warm, dry summer punctuated by perfectly timed rainfall that preserved freshness while allowing full phenolic ripeness. In Pomerol, the Merlot achieved stunning concentration and aromatic intensity, producing wines of remarkable balance between power and elegance. L’Église Clinet’s 2019 captures the vintage’s radiant fruit expression while maintaining the estate’s signature density and mineral precision, promising both immediate pleasure and extraordinary aging potential through mid-century and beyond.

Tasting Notes

Opulent Pomerol in Magnum

The 2019 l’Église Clinet opens with an intoxicating bouquet of crushed blackberry, black cherry, and blueberry compote, interlaced with notes of violets, graphite, and espresso. On the palate, the wine reveals exceptional density and concentration without heaviness—layers of dark fruit are framed by ultra-fine tannins and vibrant acidity, with mineral undertones and subtle toasted oak providing architectural definition. The finish extends effortlessly, leaving impressions of black truffle, dark chocolate, and iron minerality. Presented in magnum format, this wine benefits from slower, more graceful evolution, promising even greater complexity over the coming decades.

Critics’ Scores

International Acclaim

The 2019 vintage has garnered exceptional acclaim from the world’s leading critics, with near-perfect scores recognizing both the vintage’s quality and Denis Durantou’s masterful winemaking. The wine is widely regarded as one of the finest expressions of Pomerol in recent memory.

Service & Pairing

Serving Recommendations