CHÂTEAU LA CLOTTE

The reworking of La Clotte under the Vauthier family continues to impress, and this is one to look out for. The terroir was always there, and the precise vineyard work is now fully accentuating the iris and lily floral aromatics, the arresting slate and pumice stone texture, where autumnal fruits are sweet and ripe, cassis pastille and raspberry puree, but they take second place to the fennel, annis, cold ash, rhubarb, lavender. One of my wines to watch in this vintage, demands attention. Drinking range: 2030 - 2050 Rating: 96 Jane Anson, www.janeanson.com (May 2024)

The 2023 La Clotte is a very serious wine. La Clotte is 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc, but the Franc feels especially prominent at this stage. Saline notes run through core of plum, blood orange, white flowers, crushed rocks and white pepper. A shy, introspective wine, this will need a number of years to be at its best, but it is immensely promising. Drinking range: 2030 - 2063 Rating: 92-94 Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (May 2024)

The blend in 2023 is 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc, with just 2 hectares in production as the other 2 hectares were replanted two years ago. The new plantings include more Cabernet Franc, by the way. Picked on September 11th, 15th and 19th for the Merlot, finishing on September 29th for the Cabernet Franc, and the vines (those harvested!) are aged 58 years on average. The yield was 39 hl/ha. The fruit was vinified with 100% pigeage, then pressed directly into new oak. Sweet blackberry, blackcurrant and griottes on the nose, laced with tobacco and dark chocolate perfumed with rose. A very fragrant, elegant style of Merlot here, and this comes across on the palate too, which is elegant, composed, coherent and fresh, with a fine intertwining of texture, lightly grained tannins and toasted oak. This is fresh and convincing, with good structure which will carry it forward ten years and more. Delicious potential here. The alcohol is 14.14%, so 14% on the label. Rating: 92-94 Chris Kissack, www.thewinedoctor.com (Apr 2024)