FINE+RARE: Clos du Clocher, Pomerol

About the producer

Clos du Clocher is a Pomerol estate owned by the Bourotte family of the négociant Jean-Baptiste Audy. In the heart of the famous Pomerol plateau, under the shadow of the eponymous bell tower of the neighbouring church, this 5.9-hectare estate is home to some truly ancient vines that produce tremendous wine.

Libourne-based wine merchant Jean-Baptiste Audy purchased the vineyard, beginning the story of Clos du Clocher, in 1924. Today, his great-grandson, Jean-Baptiste Bourotte runs the property, along with the négociant business and the family’s other vineyards, which includes Ch. Bonalgue.

There are four parcels of vines and Merlot represents 70%, with the rest dedicated to Cabernet Franc. The average age of the vines is around 40 years old, with a parcel of Cabernet Franc dating back to 1957. No herbicides are used and organic treatments are implemented where possible.

The fruit is all hand-picked, double-sorted (with a density bath) and de-stemmed, producing a particularly homogenous final crop. Fermentation is in small stainless steel and cement tanks by parcel, with extraction conducted on a tank-by-tank basis, allowing for greater precision.

The final blend is usually 70% Merlot and 30% old-vine Cabernet Franc, which is created with consultant Michel Rolland and his team. The wine then spends 18 months in French oak barrels, of which two-thirds are new.

The Merlot-dominant blend offers classic Pomerol richness and roundness in the mouth, with Cabernet Franc bringing elegance and finesse. Production is around 2,000 cases a year.

About the producer

The Merlot-dominant blend offers classic Pomerol richness and roundness in the mouth, with Cabernet Franc bringing elegance and finesse. Production is around 2,000 cases a year.

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