LA PETITE ÉGLISE
2012 Pomerol
On sandy gravel. Less density than Denis Durantou's Les Cruzelles, but the tannins are more obvious, the greater density of plantation perhaps reponsible for the greater seriousness, thinks Denis. More granular tannins but still full of fruit - it is clear everything ripened here. Not quite such an exuberant sample as some of the others here, but this will be a bargain as usual. Rating: 91++ L&S (Apr 2013)
* This is a pre-shipment/primeur offer. All orders are accepted under the TERMS of this offer which differ from the terms of the rest of the site.
The second wine from Denis Durantou is pure Merlot from gravel soils that was picked from 6th until the 8th October and there is less volume than last year. The bouquet is certainly more bashful than the 2011 – like the Montlandrie, you must coax the aromas from the glass: wild hedgerow, black fruit and even a touch of cedar. The palate is medium-bodied with a supple core of pure red berry fruit mingling with minerals – a stony character to this wine – very expressive and animated. The finish is refined and displays superb length for a second wine. If I taste a better value Right Bank wine, I would be astonished. Rating: 91-93 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (May 2013)
When your second wine tastes as good as this, you can imagine how special the grand vin is. (See my note for L’Eglise-Clinet.) Sourced from gravel soils, this is lighter in style, but with the fruit purity and balance that typifies Denis Durantou’s reds. Structured and long, this shows delicious flavours of plum, liquorice and fine, vanilla-scented oak. Likely to be a bargain, on past form. Drink: 2020-35 Rating: 95 Tim Atkin MW, www.timatkin.com (Apr 2013)
Gourmand in style. More generous than 2011. Burgundian berry fruit aromas with a touch of mocha. Round and ripe but fresh and balanced. A seductive wine this year. Drink: 2017 - 2025. Rating: 16.5 James Lawther MW, decanter.com (Apr 2013)
A spectacular 2nd wine (I missed out on the Grand Vin) and one which amaze you with its seductive flair. Rating: 18 Matthew Jukes www.matthewjukes.com (Apr 2013)
Château L'Église Clinet
In a region of modest architecture, the high-spired church in Pomerol tends to dominate the sky-line. Gathered around it, a trio of estates trumpet their proximity with their name – Domaine de l’Eglise, Clos l’Eglise and Château l’Eglise Clinet. Infact, Clos l’Eglise Clinet and l’Eglise Clinet, separated only by a narrow lane, used to form a single estate until they were divided in inheritance in the latter half of the 19th Century. Initially, confusingly, called Clos de l’Eglise, the estate appended the lieu dit name and became Clos de l’Eglise Clinet, before finally settling on l’Eglise Clinet. The château, such as it is, is quite modest – the château proper being left with the Clos l’Eglise portion when the estate divided. The Château l’Eglise Clinet story really begins when Denis Durantou took over in 1983 and turned a traditional if unexciting property into one of Pomerol’s superstars. New equipment in a small new chai were installed and meticulous attention has been paid to the vineyard. There are 6ha of vines given over to 85% Merlot and 14% Cabernet Franc with the last 1% being a plot of very old Malbec vines. Following Denis' untimely death, his daughters Noémie and Constance are running the show- with the same passion. We love the wines here - and they continue to represent real class and real value from top to bottom. The Durantou family also own Château les Cruzelles in Lalande-de-Pomerol, Saintayme in Saint Emilion and Chateau Montlandrie in the Côtes de Castillon.
Please make sure that you have read the terms of this offer which are different from those of the main website. If you are unclear as to what is involved in primeur purchases please do call us, but see the 'practical notes' below.
Ordering
Prices are per case as listed 'in bond London'.
Pre-Orders are a firm commitment from you to buy the wines you order on release, subject to the price being below the upper price of the estimated band on our website. You may also set your own upper price limit, lower or higher than ours. Pre-orders will be fulfilled subject to availability. Providing this firm commitment to us effectively gives you priority.
Wines listed on the website (after any pre-orders and allocations have been fulfilled) can be ordered in the usual way via the website order form or by email or telephone 020 7221 1982, always subject to stock remaining.
Confirmation
All orders will be confirmed by email and are contractually binding unless written cancellation is received within seven days of the confirmation date, apart from pre-orders which are binding if the release price is below the top estimate or other price you have set.
Invoices are raised at the In Bond price, excluding any duty and VAT which will become payable at the prevailing rates on arrival of the wine if required duty paid.
Payment is required on sight of invoice, by cash, cheque, debit card or credit transfer. We reserve the right to charge 2% per month on invoices unpaid after 30 days.
Delivery
- Shipment to our bond (LCB Creek Road) and insurance are included in the in bond price.
- Delivery is free to Lea and Sandeman / Elephant storage accounts, both duty paid and in bond.
- Other deliveries (In Bond and Duty Paid) are also free subject to a minimum order from the offer of £1000, orders below this total will be charged £16.50+ VAT when the wine invoices are issued. We will group deliveries and this is a charge for your entire purchases, not a per-case charge.
- Delivery for 2016 Bordeaux primeurs will probably be completed by October 2019, but we make no guarantee as to specific delivery times, and some of the Sauternes may be later.
Practical notes - how it works
We start a sale in each customer's name and add all their primeur orders to one sale which is invoiced at the end of the campaign (or when the customer wishes) for immediate payment. We and our customers find that having a single invoice for the vintage is the simpler option, but do please note that confirmed orders are still binding as above even if the final invoice has not been issued.
When the wine is shipped, unless previously specified we will assume that delivery is to be to bonded storage with Elephant Storage, but in any case, we will contact you requesting any alternative instructions. If you have another bonded delivery address you would like the wine to go to, please tell us at the time of ordering. If the wines are required duty-paid we will issue invoices at the rates prevailing at the time for the excise duty (currently £25.98 per case) and the VAT (currently at 20%) on the total of the wine cost and the duty.
Half-bottles, Magnums and larger bottles.
One of the additional advantages of buying en primeur is being able to order the wine in the bottle size you want. Even if a wine is only listed in one size, you can order any bottle or case size you want if the property supplies it, but you must order the case/bottle size you require and check that the correct size has been invoiced.
Additional charges are as follows:-
- +£15 per case of 24 half-bottles
- +£15 per case of 6 Magnums (2 bottles equivalent, 1.5 litres each)
- +£35 per individually boxed Double Magnum (4 bottles equivalent, 3 litres)
- +£45 per individually boxed Imperial (8 bottles equivalent, 6 litres) for Salmanazars, Balthazars, Nebuchadnezzars and Melchiors please enquire for availability and price.