Chateau Clos L'Eglise

The history

Sylviane Garcin-Cathiard did not enter the wine industry through the typical Bordeaux route. Prior to that, she had operated a supermarket chain and a sporting goods chain, both of which she sold in 1991.

The first property she acquired was Château Haut-Bergey, located in Pessac-Léognan. In 1997, she acquired Clos l'Église, and the winery immediately underwent extensive renovations.

In 2000, the family acquired Château Barde-Haut, located in Saint-Émilion, in September, thereby bringing the total number of Bordeaux vineyards under a single owner to three. Michel Rolland, who was already serving as a consultant at Clos l'Eglise and Haut-Bergey, also joined the team.

The next generation became involved in the business at an early age. Daughter Hélène Garcin-Lévêque had been in charge of sales and marketing for the family business, and around 2000, driven by a pure interest in Malbec, she began looking for her own project in Mendoza, Argentina. Her decision at the time was pragmatic rather than romantic, as the high cost of land in Bordeaux made it nearly impossible to start a new business there.

Six hectares next to Clinet

Clos Eglise cultivates approximately 6 hectares of vineyards. This is a very small scale even by Pomerol standards, and as a result, there is a strict cap on the amount of wine that can be produced from this vineyard.

Location plays a major role here. The vineyard is situated in the central-eastern part of the Pomerol appellation, directly adjacent to Château Clinet, and set within a cluster of prestigious vineyards in this region.

All harvesting is done by hand. At a vineyard of this size, this is less a philosophical statement and more a matter of practicality; at the same time, it means that the grapes arrive at the winery in whole clusters, ready to undergo a second sorting by hand.

Sand, gravel, and the clay underneath

Pomerol does not consist of a single type of soil but rather a mosaic of soil types; Clos and Eglise are situated on a topsoil layer mixed with sand and gravel, with a hard clay layer beneath it.

This clay subsoil layer is the most crucial element for local farmers. With its high density and excellent water-holding capacity, it precisely meets the conditions required by Merlot during the dry summer months, while the gravel and sand above it help ensure smooth drainage after rainfall.

The climate in this region is closer to a continental climate than the maritime climate of Médoc. Precipitation is relatively high in the spring and generally low in the summer and winter. Located inland, Pomerol exhibits weather patterns more similar to those of neighboring Saint-Émilion than to the Left Bank.

The grape varieties

The cultivated variety of Clos l'Eglise is Merlot-led; compared to Pomerol, it contains an unusually high proportion of Cabernet Franc and a small amount of Cabernet Sauvignon:

• Merlot, approximately 80%
• Cabernet Franc, approximately 20%

However, the varietal composition of the vineyard and the wine in the bottle are two separate matters. The final blend is determined after harvest, and in years when Cabernet Franc matures properly, it may account for a much higher proportion of the final blend than its share of the total vineyard area.

The winemaking

The cellar at Clos l'Eglise was completely gutted and rebuilt after the Garcin-Cathiard family arrived; its design reflects their intention to use gravity rather than pumps to move fruit and juice.

Fermentation takes place in 55 hl thermoregulated stainless steel vats.

The subsequent aging process also continues in oak barrels. The aging period varies by vintage, taking approximately one and a half years in low-yield years and a full two years in high-yield years.

The process of harvesting and sorting the grapes by hand has also been consistently maintained. These two processes, along with the gravity-fed system, were reintroduced by the current owner as part of an overall renovation.

One grand vin, one second wine

Chateau Clos L'Eglise is this winery's Grand Vin, a red wine of the Pomerol appellation, based on Merlot and blended with a significant amount of Cabernet Franc. Production is limited, given the vineyard's size of 6 hectares.

In addition, there is a second wine, Esprit de l'Eglise, made from grapes grown in vineyards not included in the Grand Vin.

Both wines are dry reds. The winery does not produce white wines, nor does it make any attempts to expand its product line. This winery produces only Pomerol. 

What to know before buying: These wines have a robust structure and intense tannins; critics generally recommend waiting until the next decade for them to reach their peak.