1998 Eglise Clinet

98 POINTS

Neal Martin - Vinous

This is the most sublime example of the 1998 l’Eglise-Clinet of many that I have tasted. The 1998 is a Pomerol that, after 23-years, has reached its zenith. It has a simply gorgeous bouquet of ebullient red fruit, black truffle, cedar and pressed rose petals, with exquisite delineation and harmony. That, follows through on the palate that has a fine bead of acidity, perfect balance, brilliant poise and ethereal purity. Whereas previous bottles have been tight and required longer cellaring, this indicates that Denis Durantou’s brilliant Pomerol is reaching its drinking plateau. Tasted at the Amos Bursary charity dinner at 67 Pall Mall.

97 POINTS

Wine Spectator

Aromas of dark chocolate and blackberry, with hints of black olives. Full-bodied, with chewy, polished tannins and loads of ripe fruit, tapenade and flowers. A complex and complete wine. Still needs time. One of the best ever from here.--'88/'98 Bordeaux blind retrospective (2008). Best after 2010.

97 POINTS

James Suckling

Soft and silky yet firm and gorgeous. Full-bodied with a gorgeous core of raspberry and spices on the palate, with chocolate and mahogany notes. Still very young and in reserve. I decanted before drinking, but it's still a little tight. Needs more bottle time.

97 POINTS

James Suckling

I drank a bottle of 1998 L’Eglise Clinet Pomerol yesterday in Beverly Hills at the Italian restaurant Via Alloro with Hong Kong wine merchant Paulo Pong, who also blogs for my web site. The L’Eglise was still very young and in reserve. We decanted it before drinking, but it still was a little tight. I think it needs more bottle time. Nonetheless, it was soft and silky yet firm and gorgeous. It was full-bodied with a gorgeous core of raspberry and spices on the palate, with chocolate and mahogany notes.

96 POINTS

James Suckling - Wine Spectator

Truly gorgeous. Rich and thick yet refined and precise. Crushed raspberry and berry character rises from the glass. Full-bodied, with loads of fruit, fine tannins and an extremely long finish. Best after 2010. 1,085 cases made.

94 POINTS

Robert Parker - Robert Parker Wine Advocate

This wine has been so impressive over the last decade that it can now be said to rival Petrus. This effort should turn out to be one of the longest-lived Pomerols of the vintage. It is backward, and has closed down since bottling, but make no mistake about it ... this is a dazzling, serious vin de garde. An opaque purple color is followed by a restrained but promising bouquet of sweet black raspberries intermixed with vanillin, caramel, and minerals. The wine is full-bodied, powerfully tannic, beautifully textured, and crammed with extract (an assortment of black fruits). While it is bursting at the seams, purchasers will need to wait a minimum of 7-8 years. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2035.

Stephen Tanzer - Vinous

Saturated purple-ruby to the rim. Compelling, multidimensional aromas of black raspberry, dark chocolate and toffee. Distinct jammy, port-like notes complemented by a metholated aspect. Liqueur-like in its ripeness yet amazingly vibrant. Incredibly sappy and almost confectionery in its sweetness; almost too big for the mouth. Crystallized berry flavors complemented by torrefaction notes of roast coffee and grilled almond. Finishes with huge, very sweet, toothfurring tannins and explosive fruit.

Stephen Tanzer - Vinous

Saturated deep ruby. Knockout vibrant nose of roasted blackberry, dark chocolate and espresso. Great concentration and sappy brightness in the mouth; the dark fruit and torrefaction flavors are almost confectionary yet retain great verve thanks to brilliant acidity. A monumental Pomerol with extraordinary seve. Finishes with toothcoating but thoroughly ripe tannins and great grip. As ripe and rich as this is, the 3.65 pH is not particularly high for Pomerol. Will be a cellar treasure.