CHÂTEAU LA CLOTTE
2023 Grand Cru Classé Saint Emilion
85 Merlot, 15 Cabernet Franc Continued improvement and tweaking at La Clotte make it one of the most intriguing wines in the Vauthier portfolio. With superb detail on the nose and a latitude of fruit and spice notes that roll into a palate of delicious depth and sappy acidity, this is an exciting wine that asks a good few questions. The finish is neatly marshalled with fine-grained tannins and a long, tense finish. Carefully put together and invigoratingly refreshing, too, this is a smart wine, and I can now see more clearly the Vauthiers' plans for this label. 17.5+/20 Rating: 17.5+ Matthew Jukes www.matthewjukes.com (May 2024)
75cl bottles (wood case of 6)
* This is a pre-shipment/primeur offer. All orders are accepted under the TERMS of this offer which differ from the terms of the rest of the site.
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)
Crafted from vines planted in one of the best terroirs of Saint-Émilion, the 2023 La Clotte, a blend of 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc, reveals aromas of almonds, cherries, dark wild berries and raw cocoa, followed by a medium to full-bodied, lively and tense palate with youthfully structured tannins and a fleshy core of fruit with bright acids that segues into a long, penetrating and saline finish. Drinking range: 2025 - 2045 Rating: 92-94 Yohan Castaing, www.robertparker.com (Apr 2024)
This is showing the limestone magic of 2023. Medium-bodied and very polished with a tight, linear structure, but purity of fruit and wonderful length. Silky texture. So bright. 85% merlot and 15% cabernet franc. Rating: 94-95 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (Apr 2024)
Château La Clotte
Please make sure that you have read the terms of this offer which are different from those on the main website. If you are unclear as to what is involved in primeur purchases please do contact our private client team via email or on 020 7018 0187.
Ordering
Prices are all in bond by the case size stated.
Pre-Orders are a firm commitment to buy wines on release, as long as the release price is within the upper and lower price bands set by you on the pre-order form. Pre-orders will be fulfilled subject to availability but providing this firm commitment to buy effectively gives you priority and is a good idea for the most desirable wines.
Wines listed on the website can be ordered in the usual way via the website wishlist order form. You can also send orders directly to our private client team via email. Please note that, for the most sought-after wines, priority will be given to those who ordered the same wines last year and to those that have pre-ordered.
Confirmation
All orders will be confirmed by email and are binding unless written cancellation is received within seven days of email confirmation. Pre-orders are not binding if the release price is above your upper price band.
Invoices are all raised at the in bond price (excluding any duty and VAT) which will become payable at the prevailing rates when the wines arrive in the UK, should you wish to take duty paid delivery.
Payment is required on sight of invoice, by cash, cheque, debit card or bank transfer. We regret we cannot accept credit cards for en primeur orders. We reserve the right to apply a dunning charge of 2% per month on invoices unpaid after 30 days.
Delivery
- Shipment to our bond (at LCB Creek Road) and insurance are included in the in bond price.
- Delivery is free to Lea and Sandeman / Elephant storage accounts, both duty paid and in bond.
- Other deliveries (In Bond and Duty Paid) are also free subject to a minimum order from the offer of £500. Orders below this total will be charged an administration and handling fee of £16.50+ VAT when invoices are issued. We will group deliveries and this is a charge for your entire purchases, not a per-case charge.
- Delivery of 2023 Bordeaux bought en primeur is expected during 2026. Delivery dates may vary as wines are shipped from Bordeaux at different times.
Practical notes - how it works
We start a sale in each customer's name and add all their primeur orders to one sale which is invoiced at the end of the campaign (or when the customer wishes). Immediate payment of invoices is then required by cash, cheque, debit card or bank transfer. We and our customers find that having a single invoice for the vintage is the simpler option but please note that confirmed orders are still binding even if the final invoice has not yet been issued.
Please specify on your wishlist order form where you would like the wines shipped on arrival in the UK. If this is to a third-party bonded warehouse, please specify the relevant account details. If the wines are required duty-paid we will issue a second invoice for duty and VAT at the prevailing rate when the wines are available for delivery.
Half-bottles, Magnums and larger bottles.
One of the additional advantages of buying en primeur is being able to order the wine in the format you want. While most of our listings are for 75cl bottles, we can source wines in any format that is offered by the Château. Please note that format requests cannot be changed once wines have been invoiced. Additional charges for special formats do apply and are as follows:-
- +£18.00 per case of 12 half-bottles
- +£30.00 per case of 24 half-bottles
- +£7.50 per case of 3 Magnums (2 bottles equivalent, 1.5 litres each)
- +£11.00 per case of 6 Magnums
- +£45.00 per individually boxed Double Magnum (4 bottles equivalent, 3 litres)
- +£60.00 per individually boxed Imperial (8 bottles equivalent, 6 litres) for Salmanazars, Balthazars, Nebuchadnezzars and Melchiors please enquire for availability and price.
Storage Options:
Wines bought en primeur won't arrive in the UK until 2026. If you do not wish to take home delivery at that point, you may wish to consider where you would like the wines shipped. Lea & Sandeman offers duty paid and in bond storage through a dedicated storage company called Elephant Storage. For more details on the terms and fees associated with storage please go to our Storage Homepage or contact our private client team for more information.