Cory Gowan, JJ Buckley, April 2012

90% merlot, 10% cabernet franc. Denis Durantou was very happy with his 2011, praising Pomerol and his property as an "Island Of Happiness," spared most of the bad weather that plagued the Left Bank. With 6 hectares of gravel clay soils resting on a clay bed, the vineyard retained more moisture than areas with heavy drainage. This is one of the wines of the vintage, with an ethereal and complex nose of chocolate, blackberry liqueur, minerals, wet clay, and loads of violet. Pure, soft, rich, and mouth-filling, this shows superb intensity and length. With lower alcohol than in the previous two vintages, this is an elegant and balanced wine, with ripe fruit, tannins, acidity, and sugars all in perfect harmony. The great news for Bordeaux consumers is that production will be slightly higher than in 2010. Enjoy 2020-2035.

92 -93 points,

James Suckling, jamessuckling.com, April 2012

A balanced wine with lovely floral and berry character and hints of dark chocolate. Full body, with a creamy tannin structure and lovely length. Lively acidity.

94 -96 points,

Neal Martin's Wine Journal, April 2012

Tasted at the property, Denis Durantou cannot really do wrong these days. The l'Eglise-Clinet 2011 was cropped between 12th and 15th September and the Cabernet Franc on 24th September, a blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc being aged in 80% new oak. The nose is very elegant bouquet once left to unfurl over 10 minutes. It offers dark cherry fruits with touches of cassis and minerals: all very refined and poised. The palate is very well balanced with great precision on the entry. The Merlot is very expressive this year. The tannins are supremely fine and the finish linear and strict, offering traces of briary and minerals. There is a lovely femininity and sense of drinkability about this harmonious l'Eglise-Clinet that should be a worthy follow-up to the heavenly 2010. Tasted April 2012.

92 -95 points,

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, April 2012

Another brilliant wine from proprietor Denis Durantou, the powerhouse 2011 l'Eglise Clinet is one of the most densely packed and stacked wines of Pomerol. Inky ruby/purple-colored with a classic bouquet of black currants, black cherries, creme caramel and vanillin, it reveals great fruit on the attack and mid-palate, medium to full body, lavish extraction, no bitterness, sweet, well-integrated tannins, and enough acidity for vibrancy and definition. It should be drinkable in 3-5 years and last for two decades or more.

91 -94 points,

Wine Spectator, April 2012

This is a step ahead of the pack, with concentration but gentle texture to the plum, cassis and linzer torte flavors, which are inlaid with black tea and singed fennel seed notes. Long and graceful through the finish, with latent depth.-J.M.

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