La Clotte, St Emilion, 2023
La Clotte comprises four hectares of vineyards spread over the south facing limestone hillside at the south east of the village. Produced from 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc, the 2023 is an impressive and very Vauthier style of St Emilion. Initially quite pungent with lots of floral intrigue, wild herbs and garrigue. The mid-palate is bursting with seductive hedgerow fruits - lots of density and energy here backed up by fortifying tannins packed with saline details. Very good.
critic reviews
A blend of 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc, La Clotte 2023 is deep garnet-purple in color. Notions of mossy tree bark and dusty soil slowly emerge from the glass, giving way to a core of Morello cherries, juicy plums, and spice cake. The medium-bodied palate has subtle layers of red fruit and savory nuances, with satiny tannins and bags of freshness, finishing on a minerally note.
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.
The 2023 La Clotte was picked September 11 to 28 and aged for 18 months in new oak barrels. This has a little more precision and mineralité on the nose compared to the Moulin Saint-Georges, quite vibrant with shucked oyster shell in the background. The palate is medium-bodied, with svelte tannins that lend a satin-like texture. It’s very harmonious though not deep, and maybe it misses a bit of grip. That said, more extraction probably would have thrown off the balance here. Very seductive.
Crafted from vines planted in one of the best terroirs of Saint-Emilion, 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.