History
Château l’Eglise Clinet's history dates back to 1803 when Jean Pierre Rouchut acquired the land. After his death in 1836, his children and niece, Marie Rouchut, took over the estate. In 1882, the Mauléon-Rouchut family re-established the winery by combining parcels from Château Clos l’Eglise and Château Clinet Voisin. Initially named Clos de l’Eglise-Clinet, the estate was situated next to the 12th-century church of Saint-Jean de Pomerol.
The Mauléon-Rouchut family struggled to make a living from wine production, so they relied on their farm for income. In 1914, they leased the vineyards to a merchant, and it wasn't until 1942 that they partnered with Pierre Lasserre to manage the estate and market the wine. Denis Durantou, who studied oenology, took over in 1983 and made significant improvements to the vineyard and cellar, transforming the estate into one of Pomerol's stars by the 1990s. His legacy continues to shape the winery's reputation for refined, complex wines.
Terroir
Château l’Eglise Clinet benefits from an exceptional terroir characterized by clay-gravel soils with steep slopes. These soils enable the vineyard to drain the vines effectively, which is crucial for producing high-quality wines. The vineyard has withstood significant frosts, including those in 1956, 1985, and 1987, which has contributed to its resilience and quality. The climate at Château l’Eglise Clinet is very favorable, thanks to its geological conditions, which are key to producing great wines in the Bordeaux region.
The vineyard is cultivated exclusively by hand to respect the values of the terroir and allow it to express itself freely. The average age of the vines is 40 years, and the grapes are vinified with great rigor and precision. Château l’Eglise Clinet uses sustainable viticulture methods, which results in one of the finest Pomerols, comparable to Petrus. The small production and high demand explain the high prices for Château l’Eglise Clinet wines.
