Clos de la Vieille Eglise Pomerol Bordeaux, Complete Guide

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: 2023, 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