Domaine L’Eglise Pomerol with grilled beefsteak
Home alone for the evening, I grilled a petit filet of beef for dinner, served with Mac-n-cheese and balsamic hot-house tomato’s. To pair with the dinner, I pulled from the cellar an aged Right Bank Bordeaux.
With wife Linda gone, I pulled an aged bottle beyond the years she would enjoy drinking, yet still in its approachable (albeit near the end) drinking window - a 1989 vintage Bordeaux.
The 1989 vintage in Pomerol is widely considered a legendary, stellar year that produced some of the greatest and most opulent Merlot-based wines of the 20th century. As I have written often, ‘all boats rise with the tide”, such that in stellar vintage years, even the lesser known labels are excellent and can provide great values as the quality nears that of the premier producers.As an appellation, perhaps Pomerol was the most successful region for quality 1989 Bordeaux wine, partly due to the fact that the Merlot varietal faired extremely well for the vintage. The 1989 release of great First Growth from Pomerol, Chateau Haut Brion is considered one of the great wines of the century, along side the historic 1961, 1959 and perhaps even 1945 Haut Brion.
The 1989 growing season was warm, early-maturing year that resulted in abundant yields and very healthy, sugar-rich grapes. Many of the 1989 labels are still drinking well and top producers will can be held perhaps another decade, although most labels should be monitored closely and consumed soon.
Domaine L’Eglise Pomerol Bordeaux 1989
At thirty-six years, the foil and label were still in pristine condition, and most importantly, the fill level was bottom neck, acceptable for such an age, and the cork was still in good condition.
This is the last bottle of several collected years ago. The previous bottle was consumed and posted in this earlier blogpost - https://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2025/05/aged-vintage-wines-for-family-birthday.html.
Château du Domaine de l'Eglise Pomerol 1989
Château du Domaine de l'Eglise is a renowned producer of Right Bank Bordeaux wine, located in the commune of Pomerol, in the shadow of the church tower, and less than two kilometres, within walking distance, of notable famous neighbor producers Château Clinet (300m) and Château Petrus (900m), Chateau LEvangile and Chateau LEglise Clinet.
At thirty six years, this wine was holding up remarkably well and still very much in its drinking window, but certainly not likely to improve with any further aging, and best to be consumed in the next couple years. The label and foil and most importantly the fill level was top of neck and the cork was still intact despite being partly saturated, it was holding its integrity. It was carefully extracted using an ‘Ahso’ two pronged cork puller (shown). It likely would have collapsed in the bottle if pressed by a traditional cork screw. I always use this method, especially with older wines (except for synthetic corks).
https://go.cellartracker.com/wine/186048The Pomerol AOC (Appellation Originale Controllee) is located in the Libourne region on the Right Bank of the Dordogne River, just upstream from its confluence with the Isle. The town of Libourne, has a port that was used for exporting wines as far back as 1269.
In the 1900s, winegrowers got together and made joint purchases. Working together, they set up a winegrowers’ and farmers’ union to improve their wine and protect the Pomerol appellation. The AOC area was defined in 1928, recognised in 1936 and revised in 2011.
Today, the Pomerol AOC is renowned for its great wines such as Pétrus, Trotanoy, Clinet, Petit Village and Gazin. The Pomerol appellation comprises nearly 2000 acres with 140 producers with an average of 15 acres, producing 31,000 hectolitres of red wine a year.
Today, the Pomerol AOC is renowned for its great wines such as Pétrus, Trotanoy, Clinet, Petit Village and Gazin. The Pomerol appellation comprises nearly 2000 acres with 140 producers with an average of 15 acres, producing 31,000 hectolitres of red wine a year.
Domaine de l’Eglise is one of several Pomerol producers using L’Eglise as part of their name. Domaine de l’Eglise is thought to be the oldest vineyard in the entire Pomerol appellation. It is thought that the estate was founded in the 16th century. There are records dating the estate back to 1589.
In 1893, the Bertin family produced ten barrels of wine, rising to twenty barrels by 1949. Simon Landard, Laure Bertin’s nephew, ran the estate a few years later. The estate was acquired in 1973 by Émile Castéja,
The vineyards of Domaine de l’Eglise were completely replanted following a devastating frost in 1956. At that time, the estate made a management and sales agreement with Borie Manou.
In 1972, the Landard family, who had owned the vineyard since 1793, sold Domaine de l’Eglise to the well-known Castéja family, owners of Batailley and Trotte-Vieille. Borie Manou and Philippe Castéja were placed in charge of managing the Pomerol estate.
The 17 acre Pomerol vineyard of Domaine de l’Eglise is planted to 95% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc.
The wine is typically aged in an average of 40% new, French oak barrels for between 16 and 18 months, depending on the character and style of the vintage, before bottling.
On average, the annual production hovers close to 2,500 cases of Pomerol wine per vintage at Domaine de l’Eglise.
The vineyard is located not far from several famous neighbors including Chateau LEvangile, Chateau Clinet, and Chateau LEglise Clinet. While they have parcels in various locations on the plateau, their best parcels are planted close to the village church, not far from their old, stone chateau.
The origins of the Château du Domaine de l’Église vineyard can be traced back to 1589, at the beginning of the reign of the Good King Henri (Henri IV). The estate was seized by authorities during the French Revolution and in 1793 it was sold to the Bertin family though a national property sale.
In 1893, the Bertin family produced ten barrels of wine, rising to twenty barrels by 1949. Simon Landard, Laure Bertin’s nephew, ran the estate a few years later. The estate was acquired in 1973 by Émile Castéja,
Château du Domaine de l’Eglise was owned by Philippe Castéja and his sister, Chantal Castéja Prében-Hansen. Philippe ran the estate and improved the quality of the wine over the years. The wine from Château du Domaine de l’Eglise is considered a Grand Vin. Today the estate is run by the firm of Borie-Manoux.
The vineyards of Domaine de l’Eglise were completely replanted following a devastating frost in 1956. At that time, the estate made a management and sales agreement with Borie Manou.
In 1972, the Landard family, who had owned the vineyard since 1793, sold Domaine de l’Eglise to the well-known Castéja family, owners of Batailley and Trotte-Vieille. Borie Manou and Philippe Castéja were placed in charge of managing the Pomerol estate.
Starting with the 2009 vintage, the quality of wine being produced at Domaine de l’Eglise took a turn for better.
The 17 acre Pomerol vineyard of Domaine de l’Eglise is planted to 95% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc.
On average, the vines are an impressive 40 years of age at Domaine de l’Eglise Pomerol. The vineyard is situated on a plateau with classic Pomerol terroir, characterized by gravelly soil and clay subsoil, which imparts a distinct minerality to the wine
The wine is typically aged in an average of 40% new, French oak barrels for between 16 and 18 months, depending on the character and style of the vintage, before bottling.
On average, the annual production hovers close to 2,500 cases of Pomerol wine per vintage at Domaine de l’Eglise.
This release was awarded 90 points by Wine Advocate in 1993.
This was even better the following day, being more balanced and settled, after decades of aging in the cellar.
Dark blackish garnet colored, medium to full bodied, deep rich round ripe balanced blackberry, cherry and plum fruits with herbs and vibrant spice notes with soft fine tannins on a long sensuous finish.
RM 90 points, better, 91 points the following day.
