Wine Advisor
La Clotte 2016
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The 2016 La Clotte is a blend of 85% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc this year, picked on 12 October for the Merlot and 17 October for both Cabernets. Matured in 85% new oak, it has a fragrant bouquet with plenty of redcurrant, wild strawberry and rose petal notes, real gusto here but also elegance. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin, a beautiful line of acidity, great substance and fine mineralité on the finish. La Clotte was in a poor state in terms of old and missing vines when the Vauthiers took over the property in 2014, but it is rapidly becoming one of their standout wines alongside Ausone. Superb.
Reviewed by: Lisa Perrotti-Brown
The 2016 La Clotte is made up of 85% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc. Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, it opens with a beautiful floral nose of violets and roses over a core of crushed cherries, black plums and blueberry compote plus hints of camphor and coffee beans. Medium to full-bodied, the palate features super ripe, wonderfully fine-grained tannins and oodles of freshness seamlessly matching the delicate fruit nuances, leading to a very long, perfumed and classy finish.
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
Most of the Vauthier family's 2016s are incredibly inviting, but La Clotte is an exception. Today it is the wine's tannin and overall structure that dominate. To be sure, the 2016 was far more expressive en primeur. There is good depth to the fruit, but the wine is not in a mood to show all of its cards. The 2016 is 85% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc.
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
The 2016 La Clotte is a gorgeous wine, but it is also quite closed in on itself. Deceptively medium in body, it packs a serious punch. The 2016 is a fascinating wine to contemplate, as it offers superb potential for the future. The interplay of aromatics, fruit, tannin and acidity is compelling, even at this early stage. The Cabernet Franc here is especially distinctive.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The 2016 La Clotte, part of the Vauthier family's portfolio, was outstanding out of barrel, and now that it is in bottle, I have no reason to alter my view. The sophisticated, beautifully defined bouquet features mineral-rich black cherry and raspberry fruit; hints of violet and bay leaf emerge with time. The sublimely balanced palate is sensual and refined, offering a fine bead of acidity and a silky-smooth texture. The very persistent, refined finish is exceptional. This must surely be the hidden gem of Saint-Émilion in 2016. It’s just a shame that only 10,000 bottles were produced. Try to buy one.
About the Producer
Located in the Saint-Emilion appellation of Bordeaux, France, Chateau La Clotte sits on one of the oldest vineyards on the Right Bank of Bordeaux. The vineyard covers 4 hectares and is planted to Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon, mainly on clay and limestone soils. The vines are old, with an average age of almost 50 years, and planted at a density of 6,500 vines per hectare. During the ripening stage, the winery conducts regular experimental analyses in order to determine the final harvesting time. For the winemaking, the grapes are picked by hand, macerated at low temperatures and fermented in stainless steel tanks equipped with temperature control facilities. During this period, daily drenching, cap pressing and tank decanting and back-mixing are carried out to enhance the contact between the juice and the skins in order to extract more pigments and tannins. After fermentation, the wine is aged in 50% new French oak barrels, depending on the quality of the grapes, usually around 15 months. The wine produced by Château La Clotte is called Chateau La Clotte, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru Classe, France. The wines are of excellent quality, reasonably priced, rich in minerality, rich and full-bodied, and loved by the elite of the wine industry. Recent vintages of Château Claret have won praise from several wine critics and wine review magazines, including Robert Parker Points, James Suckling and Wine Enthusiast, for their excellent quality, including a 95+ score for the 2015 vintage. with a score of 95+.
