2019 Chateau La Clotte Saint-Emilion Grand Cru

Product Description

Tucked behind the ancient southern ramparts of Saint-Émilion, Château La Clotte is one of the most charming and historic estates in the appellation. Its story stretches back to the 16th century and the illustrious de Grailly family, who would remain associated with it for generations. The estate’s name tells its own tale. Built against the side of a limestone cliff and concealing a labyrinth of deep cellars, the château takes its name from the Gascon word for a small troglodyte dwelling. Its neo-Gothic turret and the two lime trees that stand proudly before the house make it one of Saint-Émilion’s most recognisable sights.

In 2014, La Clotte entered a new era when it was acquired by Alain Vauthier and his daughter Pauline, the family behind the legendary Château Ausone, whose vineyards lie a stone’s throw away. Pauline, also winemaker at Ausone, now directs the estate. Since their arrival, the family has invested significantly in both vineyard and cellar, culminating in a complete renovation of the winery, and La Clotte is now crafted with the same meticulous attention to detail as its illustrious neighbour.

The vineyard is a true jewel. At just four hectares, it is a patchwork of compact terraces resting on Saint-Émilion’s celebrated limestone plateau and its clay-limestone slopes. Densely planted with vines averaging around fifty years of age, it faces south and is sheltered from the prevailing winds. Merlot accounts for around 85% of the blend, complemented by Cabernet Franc. Every stage is handled with exceptional care: plot-by-plot selection, hand harvesting, meticulous sorting, gravity-flow reception and manual punching down, before malolactic fermentation in oak and around eighteen months’ ageing in new barrels.

The Vauthiers describe La Clotte as a “haute couture” wine, and it is easy to see why. Produced in tiny quantities, it unites the voluptuous generosity that defines great Saint-Émilion with elegant, finely sculpted tannins and the mineral precision of its limestone terroir. Rich yet refined, with remarkable ageing potential, it offers a rare chance to taste the craftsmanship of one of Bordeaux’s most revered families from one of Saint-Émilion’s smallest and most storied estates.