Lovely Pinot impressive and improving with time
See earlier notes — 4 years ago
The 2014 L’Eglise-Clinet has a gentle, understated bouquet at first that takes time to open, eventually offering black fruit, melted tar, truffle and bay leaf aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with firm tannin, rather masculine and thickset at the moment, lightly spiced towards the finish. Much like the Vieux-Château-Certan, this is a little awkward in a blind setting however, it clearly meliorates in the glass and I keep on having to up my score. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting. (Neal Martin, Vinous, March 2018) — 7 years ago
The 2019 Bon Pasteur has more fruit concentration than either the Gravette de Certan and La Fleur de Gay tasted alongside - blackberry and wild strawberry, truffle and a touch of smoke. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy black fruit, fine acidity, firm backbone yet with plenty of freshness on its sappy finish. A fine Pomerol. Tasted blind at the Southwold annual tasting. (Neal Martin, Vinous, February 2023) — 2 years ago
Great nose. Complex and smooth as velvet. — 9 months ago
A beautiful wine that had plenty of life, color, and complexity in the glass. Quite amazing! — 2 years ago
The 2017 Hosanna was one of my favourite crus from Ets J-P Moueix from barrel. Now in bottle, it remains a delightful Pomerol. It has a generous and beautifully defined bouquet with ample red cherry, crushed strawberry and light black truffle aromas that are actually reminiscent of Bélair-Monange. The palate is medium-bodied but denser, thicker than its peers. There is real substance to this Hosanna that puts the relatively lightweight Certan-de-May in its place. It shows good grip with a saline finish. This is a deeply impressive Hosanna. Rejoice! (Neal Martin, Vinous, February 2020)
— 5 years ago
Delectable Wine
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The 2019 Vieux Château Certan was picked from September 23 after light showers the previous day. "We dared to add some Cabernet Sauvignon in 2019, which gives complexity," Alexandre Thienpont remarks, "but the Cabernet was 'killed' in 2020." It has a much more discrete bouquet than the 2018, unfolding with truffle-tinged black fruit. There are fewer marmalade scents than I noticed a couple of years ago, but there is absolutely stunning delineation. The palate is medium-bodied with filigree tannins, like a cousin of the superlative 2016 in many ways, but it may be silkier towards the finish. Elegant yet paradoxically intense, this is VCC at full flight. And it's only on its opening pages! Tasted at the VCC vertical in Etikhove, Belgium. (Neal Martin, Vinous, July 2024)
— 3 months ago