1995 Château l'Église-Clinet
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Tasting notes
Full bottle 1,295 g. Tasted immediately on opening. Transparent dark ruby. Fresh nose that's not as intense as it once was. Rich with no tannin evident. A little bit past its best but still a rich, pleasing wine with a long finish. May open out aromatically once decanted. (JR)
Critic scores
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Robert Parker
More reviews and scores
Full bottle a modest 1,280 g. Opened at our JancisRobinson.com Christmas dinner to commemorate the talented, impish Denis Durantou of Église-Clinet. Pale blackish ruby shading gently to a very pale rim. Very light nose. Initially the fruit seemed perhaps to be on the way out, leaving the acidity rather obvious. But it did gain body and richness with air, thank goodness. Quite enough fruit and a little dustiness on the end, but it needs drinking. Quite a spread on the finish. (JR)
A bottle opened to accompany a beef Sunday lunch on learning of the demise of the exceptionally open, friendly and helpful Denis Durantou of Ch L'Église-Clinet. Finely shaded, medium-intensity ruby with widely shaded rim. Lightly dusty nose, a slightly tarry note, beautifully balanced – not exaggerated. Rich and sweet but with real refreshment on the finish. Really beautiful balance and lack of exaggeration. Probably at peak now. Better get those remaining bottles drunk! (JR)
Mature, paleish garnet. Toasty, spicy nose but without the concentration of the Tertre Roteboeuf 2004. Fresh and lively. Bright, ready claret with a little bit more sweetness than a left-bank wine would have but a little more savoury than many a Merlot. Long and reverberant. But it's all on the (slightly dry) finish. I'd drink this sooner rather than later. (JR)
About the producer
Ch. l'Eglise-Clinet is one of the most unassuming wine estates in Bordeaux. You'd probably drive past it if you didn't have prior knowledge of its vinous output. There's no ostentatious gateway nor sweeping gravel drive.