1985 Clos de l'Eglise (Lalande de Pomerol)

Clos L’Eglise is a 45-acre estate in the Pomerol appellation of Bordeaux. Pomerol is an unclassified appellation. The estate was established in the 18th century and like many wine estates in the area, it takes part of its name from the district’s large church, or l’eglise. The estate has changed hands numerous times over the centuries, but in 1997 it was acquired by Sylvanie Garcin-Cathiard, part of the family that owns Smith-Haut-Lafite and Barde-Haut. Vineyards are planted to 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc. About 15,000 bottles of Clos L’Eglise are produced annually. The second label is Esprit de L’Eglise. Robert M. Parker has written that since the late 1990s when the new owners brought in consultant Michel Rolland to guide the winemaking, “the result has been a succession of brilliant wines.”

Lalande-de-Pomerol is a red wine appellation just north of Pomerol. The two main communes are Lalande-de-Pomerol and Néac. As part of the Bordeaux Right Bank, the wines of this appellation are primarily Merlot, with additions of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec. Although Lalande-de-Pomerol has historically been considered a lesser appellation than its distinguished neighbor Pomerol, in recent decades Lalande-de-Pomerol has been revitalized as owners of estates in Pomerol also acquire estates in Lalande-de-Pomerol, typically using the same winemakers and viticultural practices for both estates. Without almost 2,600 vineyard acres, Lalande-de-Pomerol is slightly larger than Pomerol. The official appellation was awarded in 1954, although some estates had been using Lalande-de-Pomerol designations on their labels as early as the 1920s.