The 2023 L’Eglise Clinet Bordeaux Blend is a notable wine from the Pomerol sub-region in Bordeaux, France. This red wine is crafted by L’Eglise Clinet and is composed of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc. The wine has received high praise from several professional reviewers, highlighting its exceptional quality and potential for aging.
James Suckling awarded this wine an impressive 98 points, describing it as having "finesse, intensity, and fine tannins that last for minutes on the palate." He noted its exceptional purity and precision, emphasizing its refined and tightly woven tannins. Suckling concluded that it is "all about structure with finesse" (JamesSuckling.com, April 15, 2024).
Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate gave it a score of 95 points, with William Kelley commenting on its "brooding aromas of dark berries and cherries mingled with baking chocolate, pipe tobacco, and toasty new oak." Kelley described the wine as "full-bodied, layered, and muscular," with a sweet core of fruit framed by rich, powdery tannins, and concluded that it has a "long, expansive finish" (Wine Advocate, April 26, 2024).
Vinous offered an exceptional review, awarding it 100 points. Neal Martin praised its "stunning bouquet with enthralling delineation and focus," noting aromas of blackberries, raspberry, crushed stone, Earl Grey, and blood orange. Martin emphasized the wine's harmonious palate, fine-boned tannins, and brilliant finish, considering it one of the best wines of the vintage (Vinous, April 29, 2024).
Jane Anson scored the wine 97 points, highlighting its intense and concentrated flavors of cloves, pomegranate, black pepper, and rich black fruits. She also noted its "cohesion, precision, lift, and character" (JaneAnson.com, April 22, 2024).
Decanter also gave it 97 points, praising the wine's ability to express power without any hard or drying tannins. They highlighted its "cool and confident menthol, bright tangy red berry, and blueberry fruit aromas," and recommended aging it for full potential (Decanter, April 20, 2024).
Jeff Leve from The Wine Cellar Insider awarded it 99 points, noting its floral characteristics, opulent and rich palate, and silky tannins. He mentioned the moderate sun hours that helped make the vintage (TheWineCellarInsider.com, May 4, 2024).
Jeb Dunnuck gave the wine 97 points, describing its "fabulous notes of cassis, ripe black cherries, chocolate, smoked tobacco, iron, and spice." He highlighted its ripe tannins and gorgeous finish (JebDunnuck.com, May 8, 2024).
The Wine Independent, represented by Lisa Perrotti-Brown, awarded it 99 points, emphasizing its deep garnet-purple color and "perfumed waves of lilacs, cinnamon stick, star anise, crushed rocks, and forest floor." Perrotti-Brown described the wine as "tightly coiled" with a "very long and fragrant" finish (The Wine Independent, May 7, 2024).
Overall, the 2023 L’Eglise Clinet is highly regarded for its purity, intensity, and exceptional structure, making it a standout wine of the vintage.