Château CLOS L'EGLISE 2015
In Pomerol, Château Clos L’Église occupies a discreet terroir located on the plateau and its surroundings, in one of the most sought-after areas of the appellation. The property belongs to the Garcin-Cathiard family, who also manage several estates on the right bank and have undertaken significant precision work since acquiring it in the late 1990s. The vineyard, of limited size, rests on soils where gravel mixes with clay, a configuration particularly favorable to Merlot. Cabernet Franc completes the grape blend and brings freshness, tension, and aromatic complexity to the wine. The small size of the estate allows for attentive parcel management and rigorous selection of grapes destined for the grand vin. The 2015 vintage, particularly successful in Pomerol, benefited from favorable conditions for complete ripening while maintaining sufficient freshness to balance the natural richness of the Merlots. Clos L’Église 2015 today expresses this maturity in a deep, velvety, and structured style, with an elegance that becomes more defined as it evolves in the bottle.
Château Clos L’Église 2015 is a blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc. Merlot forms the heart of the wine with dense matter, ripe black fruits, and a naturally enveloping texture. Cabernet Franc plays an essential role in balance by bringing floral and spicy nuances as well as a more vertical framework. The grapes are vinified with particular attention to the quality of extractions to build depth without hardening the tannins. Barrel aging accompanies the richness of the vintage and gradually helps to soften the structure with the fruity and spicy components. Clay soils favor a generous expression of Merlot, while the gravel enhances finesse and length. After about ten years in the bottle, the 2015 is beginning to enter a very interesting phase of openness while retaining significant aging potential.
The color shows a deep garnet with still intense ruby reflections. The nose combines blackberry, black plum, and ripe cherry with notes of violet, licorice, and cocoa. Aeration gradually reveals cedar, blond tobacco, sweet spices, and a touch of graphite. The palate is ample and velvety, supported by ripe tannins that provide depth without weighing down the whole. Merlot brings a fleshy and generous texture, while Cabernet Franc maintains freshness and extends the finish. The ensemble evolves towards more complex nuances of undergrowth, truffle, and spicy black fruits as it aerates. Château Clos L’Église 2015 will accompany a beef fillet with porcini mushrooms, roasted pigeon, rack of lamb, duck breast, or refined cuisine around black truffle.
Grape varieties: 80% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc
