Clos l'Eglise 2001

Lots of vanilla, coffee and chocolate, with hints of blackberries, on the nose. Medium-bodied, with lots of wood and dusty tannins. Long, slightly austere finish. A bit too much new wood for me, but an interesting wine. Best after 2006. 2,915 cases made.

This is very fresh and fine, with some almonds, walnuts, chocolate and dark berries. Medium to full body, silky tannins and a fresh, focused finish.

Medium red-ruby. Redcurrant, mineral, pungent cocoa powder and a rustic hint of leather on the nose. Rich but dry, with currant, leather and game flavors firmed by harmonious acidity. Distinctly sauvage Pomerol with good length and plenty of personality. (My sample of the '03 seemed quite green, and was too clenched to assess.)

It blasts off with an explosive perfume with touches of vanilla, roasted blackberries and coffee. Thick, rich and dense palate feel. Very concentrated. Some tannin remains. Long, sensual finish. There is a lot to like in this wine.

Lots of menthol, assorted dark fruits, cured meats, and gamey notes emerge from the 2001 Clos L'Eglise, a complex, pretty, more medium-bodied Pomerol. With ripe tannins, a beautiful elegance, and outstanding purity of fruit, it's drinking at point today yet has the balance to evolve nicely over the coming 7-8 years or more, although, as with the 2000, there's no need to delay gratification.

Saturated ruby-purple, lightening rim. Delicate bouquet, subtly smoky, dried raspberries. Smooth, plenty of primary fruit, delicate balance, remaining on the elegant side, refined tannins for a Côtes-de-Castillon.

02: Lush, dense purple; one of the deepest colors of all Pomerols. Powerful, sweet-toned bouquet; Amarena cherries, dried-fruit components, but also floral notes. Rich, creamy palate, opulent structure and a truly soft texture with well-supporting tannins and perfectly integrated acidity, slightly grainy astringency, licorice and tea leaves, long finish, very good potential. 18/20 2006–2020

The 2001 Clos L'Eglise is deep garnet in color with a touch of brick. It opens with notions of tobacco leaf, new leather, and wood smoke, with a core of prunes and dried figs and a waft of exotic spices and fried herbs. The medium- to full-bodied palate delivers impressive harmony, with plenty of spicy dried-berry layers, finishing on a minerally note.

A superb bottle, full-bodied, with great fruit maturity, exemplary ageing, exceptional aromatic complexity and extraordinary smooth tannins. A luscious and very charming wine.

Logo on the cork: The crown Faulty bottle Dark, intense color with slight evolution. Very aromatic nose with ripe, subtle fruit. However, it develops a button mushroom note when swirled. Caressing on the attack, juicy and smooth mid-palate, the wine shows some harsh nuances on the finish with a touch of undergrowth. Seems like a faulty bottle. Medium length.

The 2001 offers a huge spectrum of aromas, including notes of smoke, mocha, chocolate, coffee, and loads of blackberry, cherry, and currant fruit. The superb aromatics are followed by an elegant, medium-bodied, deliciously supple-textured, expansive, fleshy, beautifully pure, well-delineated Pomerol. It is a brilliant effort as well as one of the candidates for the wine of the appellation in 2001. Anticipated maturity: 2005-2014.