Château L’Eglise-Clinet Pomerol 2013

Unquestionably one of the better wines of the vintage, with grip and grace. Not the depth and complexity of a normal L’Eglise Clinet, but there is a slow progression through the palate, and a clear indication of careful extraction of actual fruit. Blackberry and raspberry dominate, autumnal and gentle, enjoyable and there is pleasure to be found. No need to wait, but no rush to drink. Denis Durantou was no doubt up for the challenge of this year, obsessively checking his vines to see what he could do to revive them, and I have a wonderful memory of tasting this with him and Michel Rolland in Pomerol, and being struck by how much it revealed of his talents.