2014 Clos du Clocher

The 2014 Clos du Clocher comes from vines located on Pomerol's central plateau and has seen an upswing in quality under Jean-Baptiste Bourrotte, who now has a brand new winery at his disposal out on the fringe of Catusseau. The wine has an elegant bouquet with subtle traces of dried blood and truffle oil infusing the red and black fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin and crisp acidity. There is a tangible harmony and sense of composure that pervades this Pomerol from start to finish, to wit, a sophisticated Clos du Clocher. I would single out the precision on the finish that elevates this above some of its peers. My advice: don't ignore this gem. Tasted twice with consistent notes. (Mar 2017)

A firm, tannic wine, the 2014 Clos du Clocher possesses notable depth, but it is also a bit of a bruiser today. Smoke, tobacco, incense and dark red/bluish hued fruit are pushed forward. I very much like the sense of energy here, but I am less confident the tannins will fully soften here. If they do, the 2014 will come in at the top of my projected range. There certainly appears to be plenty of potential.