Château l'Eglise-Clinet

If there is one person whose work has made the qualities of Pomerol stand out, it has to be Denis Durantou. A graduate in political science (Paris) and then in oenology (Bordeaux), as a young man he had the courage to take on a small family estate that his grandfather owned in Pomerol. These are vineyards that his ancestors bought next to the church cemetery (L'Église) and that the family later added to with Château Clinet plots, creating Château l'Église Clinet. Over years of crisis and turmoil, the family lost ownership of the estate, however it later returned to the family and in 1983 Durantou managed to position its wines among the best in the region. To do this, they focussed on modernising their wineries and increasing the quality of their wines. A real scene setting exercise without sophisticated gimmicks. Just old vines, an exceptional terroir and a careful and inspirational winemaking process. Following Denis’ sad passing, his three daughters have taken over with the unwavering support of Olivier Gautrat, who has worked for the Durantou family for the past 20 years and ensures the continuity of Denis’ great work.

Among his great works is Château l'Eglise-Clinet, one of the top wines of the Pomerol denomination. It is made from sunny 45 year old vineyards located on slopes of gravel and clay soils. It is planted with Merlot and Cabernet Franc vines with well-drained soil and cultivated using organic treatments to maintain the natural balance of the terroir. Following the harvest, the grapes undergo a rigorous selection and complete destemming in the winery. Fermentation takes place at a controlled temperature in stainless steel tanks and then the wine is aged for 18 months in new and used oak barrels.

Although Denis sadly passed away in 2022 after a long illness, his Château l'Eglise-Clinet project will always keep the influence of his work and dedication alive. A real gem that reflects the full potential of Pomerol.