L'Eglise-Clinet 2005

POMEROL In 1882, Mr Mauléon-Rouchut, great great grandfather of Denis Durantou, brought together different plots of Clos L’Eglise and Domaine de Clinet, which his family had acquired in the 18th century, to make up a 4.5 hectare vineyard around the church of Saint John of Pomerol. TERROIR Clay and gravel without excess water thanks to the natural slopes of the plots and the century-old drainage network. GRAPE VARIETIES Spared by the recent frosts of 1956, 1985 and 1987, the Merlot plants (85%) and the Cabernet Franc plants (15%) have reached an average age of 40 years. PRUNING AND DENSITY "Bordelaise" and Single Guyot pruning techniques, organic compost every 5 years, 6,500 plants per hectare. HARVESTING After daily tastings of the berries and with a team of 30 pickers, the harvest is carried out swiftly thanks to the leaf-stripping and crop thinning done in August and September. Total de-stemming and gentle crushing. VINIFICATION AND AGEING The vatting last from 15 to 21 days. As from October, racking into oak barrels, which are new, depending on the vintages, allowing an ageing period of 18 months with rackings every 3 to 5 months. The bottling before summer, sometim es after fining with egg whites. PRODUCTION Château bottling rarely exceeding 15 tonneaux (1,500 cases).

- Pekka Nuikki / Editor of the Fine Wine Magazines and Champagne Magazine