Clos de la Vieille Eglise Pomerol Bordeaux, Complete Guide

clos de  la vieille eglise

Learn everything about Clos de la Vieille Eglise Pomerol with wine tasting notes and wine with food pairing tips. Learn the best vintages, a history of the property, information on vineyards and winemaking. If you want to read about other important, Bordeaux Chateaux: Links to all Bordeaux Wine Producer Profiles

Clos de la Vieille Eglise History, Overview

Clos de la Vieille Eglise gets an award for having the longest name in all of Pomerol. They have an even longer history in the Pomerol appellation and with Trocard family, as the Trocard family has owned Clos de la Vieille Eglise in Pomerol since 1830! Today, Benoit Trocard is fully in charge at Clos de la Vieille Eglise Benoit Trocard has had that responsibility since the 2010 vintage.

Clos de la Vieille Eglise Vineyards, Terroir, Grapes, Winemaking

The small, 1.5-hectare, Right Bank vineyard of Clos de la Vieille Eglise is planted to 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc. The vines are situated not that far from Chateau Clinet, Chateau Rouget, and Chateau LEglise Clinet.

The current makeup of the vineyard shows an increase in Cabernet Franc plantings. It is the goal of the estate to slowly increase the percentage of Cabernet Franc in the vineyards.

The terroir is clay and gravel soils. On average, the vines are old, as they are close to 50 years of age. The vineyard is planted to a vine density of 6,700 vines per hectare. When you are standing in the vineyards, you get a clear view of the church in Pomerol.

To produce the wine of Clos de la Vieille Eglise, vinification takes place in three temperature-controlled, stainless steel vats that range in size from 30 hectoliters to 40 hectoliters for 80% of the production. The remaining 20% is fermented in oak barrels. Malolactic fermentation takes place in new French oak barrels.

The wine is aged in 100% new, French oak barrels for between 18 to 20 months.

On average, the production is 500 cases of Clos de la Vieille Eglise per vintage. The Trocard family own numerous other Right Bank estates in a myriad of appellations including St. Emilion and Lalande de Pomerol, as well as wines that are classified as Bordeaux Superieur and of course their most famous property, Clos Dubreuil in Saint Emilion.

The best vintages of Clos de la Vieille Eglise are: 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2012, 2010, 2009, 2006, 2005, 2001 and 2000.

When to Drink Clos de la Vieille Eglise, Anticipated Maturity, Decanting Time

Clos de la Vieille Eglise can be enjoyed on the young side with decanting. Young vintages can be decanted for an average of 1 hour or so. This allows the wine to soften and open its perfume. Older vintages might need very little decanting, just enough to remove the sediment.

Clos de la Vieille Eglise is usually better with at least 2-4 years of bottle age. Of course, that can vary slightly, depending on the vintage character. Clos de la Vieille Eglise offers its best drinking and should reach peak maturity between 3-12 years of age after the vintage.

Serving Chateau Clos de la Vieille Eglise with Wine, Food, Pairing Tips

Chateau Clos de la Vieille Eglise is best served at 15.5 degrees Celsius, 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The cool, almost cellar temperature gives the wine more freshness and lift.

The wine is best served with all types of classic meat dishes, veal, pork, beef, lamb, duck, game, roast chicken, roasted, braised, and grilled dishes. Clos de la Vieille Eglise is also good with Asian dishes, hearty fish courses like tuna, mushrooms, and pasta.

www.trocard.com

Clos de la Vieille Église Wine Tasting Notes

13 Vintages 41,603 Views Sort by Vintage-Rating

2021
90
Round, plummy, floral, soft-textured, black cherry filled wine with silky-tannins and loads of freshness that comes in on the palate, continuing though to the spicy, cherry-tinted finish. Drink from 2024-2034.

Round, plummy, floral, soft-textured, black cherry filled wine with silky-tannins and loads of freshness that comes in on the palate, continuing though to the spicy, cherry-tinted finish. Drink from 2024-2034.

179 Views   Tasted
Medium-bodied, bright, floral and plummy, here the wine is a bit over-extracted for the vintage that creates a some chalky dryness in the red fruits on the palate. The wine blends 70% Merlot with 30% Cabernet Franc. Drink from 2023-2034. 87-89

Medium-bodied, bright, floral and plummy, here the wine is a bit over-extracted for the vintage that creates a some chalky dryness in the red fruits on the palate. The wine blends 70% Merlot with 30% Cabernet Franc. Drink from 2023-2034. 87-89

1,802 Views   Tasted
2020
90
Espresso, dried flowers, black cherries, smoke and licorice scents get the wine noticed. Round, sweet and creamy with a finish packed with chocolate, ripe plums and oak that needs to be better integrated. Drink from 2024-2037.

Espresso, dried flowers, black cherries, smoke and licorice scents get the wine noticed. Round, sweet and creamy with a finish packed with chocolate, ripe plums and oak that needs to be better integrated. Drink from 2024-2037.

1,729 Views   Tasted
Deeply colored, the wine opens with black plums and cherries, oak, wet earth, anise and flowers. Medium-bodied, soft, silky and polished, with a nice sweetness to the elegant fruits and freshness in the finish. This will be even better with a few years of aging. 89-91 Pts

Deeply colored, the wine opens with black plums and cherries, oak, wet earth, anise and flowers. Medium-bodied, soft, silky and polished, with a nice sweetness to the elegant fruits and freshness in the finish. This will be even better with a few years of aging. 89-91 Pts

2,886 Views   Tasted
2019
90
Black raspberries, herbs and spice with touches of espresso, wet earth and spices kick off the perfume. Medium-bodied, fresh, soft, vibrant and elegant, the sweet, ripe, red fruits really come through on the palate and in the finish. This is showing much nicer from the bottle than it did from the barrel. Drink from 2023-2034.

Black raspberries, herbs and spice with touches of espresso, wet earth and spices kick off the perfume. Medium-bodied, fresh, soft, vibrant and elegant, the sweet, ripe, red fruits really come through on the palate and in the finish. This is showing much nicer from the bottle than it did from the barrel. Drink from 2023-2034.

1,232 Views   Tasted
Bright, fresh and fruity with a citrus, plum and cherry core of fruits, soft textures and a plummy finish. 88-90 Pts

Bright, fresh and fruity with a citrus, plum and cherry core of fruits, soft textures and a plummy finish. 88-90 Pts

2,812 Views   Tasted
2018
88
A light touch of oak, soft, silky textures, and ripe, sweet plums with hints of cocoa fill out this wine on the palate. Medium-bodied and forward, give it a few years in the cellar for further development.

A light touch of oak, soft, silky textures, and ripe, sweet plums with hints of cocoa fill out this wine on the palate. Medium-bodied and forward, give it a few years in the cellar for further development.

1,626 Views   Tasted
Medium bodied, fruity and correct, you'll find more ripeness, form and fruit than usual. The wine starts off well but finishes a bit short. 87-89 Pts

Medium bodied, fruity and correct, you'll find more ripeness, form and fruit than usual. The wine starts off well but finishes a bit short. 87-89 Pts

2,283 Views   Tasted
2017
87
Strawberries and cherries fashioned in a medium bodied, forward, uncomplicated, early drinking style, prepare for a pleasant bit of chocolate in the endnote.

Strawberries and cherries fashioned in a medium bodied, forward, uncomplicated, early drinking style, prepare for a pleasant bit of chocolate in the endnote.

1,878 Views   Tasted
2016
87
Open, easy drinking, red cherry filled wine, this is a Pomerol for early drinking consumption.

Open, easy drinking, red cherry filled wine, this is a Pomerol for early drinking consumption.

3,125 Views   Tasted
Forward in style with a spicy, red cherry core, this wine is pleasant but lacking in depth and concentration.

Forward in style with a spicy, red cherry core, this wine is pleasant but lacking in depth and concentration.

2,594 Views   Tasted
2015
89
Plum and mocha on the nose, this wine is medium-bodied, soft textured and ends with a newly-picked, piquant, herbal, cherry finish. This wine was made from a blend of 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc. This could be the best wine yet from Clos de la Vieille Eglise. 88 - 90 Pts

Plum and mocha on the nose, this wine is medium-bodied, soft textured and ends with a newly-picked, piquant, herbal, cherry finish. This wine was made from a blend of 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc. This could be the best wine yet from Clos de la Vieille Eglise. 88 - 90 Pts

2,583 Views   Tasted
2014
86
With dark chocolate and plum on the nose, this medium-bodied wine ends with a sweet, cherry tart of a finish. Made from a blend of 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc. 85-87 Pts

With dark chocolate and plum on the nose, this medium-bodied wine ends with a sweet, cherry tart of a finish. Made from a blend of 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc. 85-87 Pts

2,663 Views   Tasted
2013
85
Fresh, medium bodied, slightly tart red fruits and a lot of spice are found in the zippy finish. Drink this on the young side.

Fresh, medium bodied, slightly tart red fruits and a lot of spice are found in the zippy finish. Drink this on the young side.

1,698 Views   Tasted
70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc produced a smoky, bright, black raspberry-scented wine that finishes with sharp, crisp red berries. 85-87 Pts

70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc produced a smoky, bright, black raspberry-scented wine that finishes with sharp, crisp red berries. 85-87 Pts

1,809 Views   Tasted
2012
85
Earthy, dusty cherries with a sweet and tart, raspberry and plum finish that will be best in its youth.

Earthy, dusty cherries with a sweet and tart, raspberry and plum finish that will be best in its youth.

3,610 Views   Tasted
2010
87
Fresh, sweet and tart fruits, licorice, earth and a hint of dark chocolate in a forward, plummy, open, early drinking style. This is slightly better and more interesting than the 2009.

Fresh, sweet and tart fruits, licorice, earth and a hint of dark chocolate in a forward, plummy, open, early drinking style. This is slightly better and more interesting than the 2009.

2,775 Views   Tasted
2009
87
Floral, thyme and sweet, black raspberry scents open to a soft, forward, easy drinking Pomerol that should be best in its youth.

Floral, thyme and sweet, black raspberry scents open to a soft, forward, easy drinking Pomerol that should be best in its youth.

2,023 Views   Tasted
2005
86
Fresh herb, earth and mushroom aromas on the nose, medium bodied and soft, but firm textured, with a raspberry and bright cherry note in the ready to drink finish.

Fresh herb, earth and mushroom aromas on the nose, medium bodied and soft, but firm textured, with a raspberry and bright cherry note in the ready to drink finish.

2,296 Views   Tasted