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Domain: l'Eglise Clinet

Eglise Clinet is one of these micro-estates which are found throughout the appellation. Relatively unknown to the general public, it produces one of the top Pomerol wines. The vineyard has belonged to the Durantou family for a very long time. During the nineteenth century it was created close by to the Church of Saint-Jean de Pomerol and is made up of parcels of land from the Clos de L'Eglise (which the family has owned since the eighteenth century) adjoining vines which were bought from the Domaine de Clinet. This vineyard benefits from having an excellent terroir, composed of gravel and clay, on well drained soil and with planting on gentle slopes. Enjoying good exposure, the vines were saved from the dreadful frosts of 1956, then 1985 and 1987. This means that nowadays they are on average over 40 years old. As is traditional for Pomerol, the grape varieties used include a high proportion of Merlot (85%) along with Cabernet Franc (15%). The estate uses natural fertilisers (organic manure) to treat the vines. After the harvesting, the grape berries are completely destemmed. On average the wine is matured for eighteen months in oak barrels; the proportion of new wood used for the barrels varies according to the vintage. Each year, Eglise Clinet produces at most 1,500 cases of a refined and distinguished wine which will reach full maturity between five and fifteen years. It should be noted that the estate makes a drastic selection and has no hesitation in downgrading a significant proportion of its harvest to use for its second wine, La Petite Eglise, which is also very much in demand