2022 La Clotte
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Tasting notes
A blend of 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc, the 2022 La Clotte is full of promise. Deep garnet in colour, spicy notes of cinnamon and cloves unfurl in the glass. The intensity of the nose is matched on the palate with notes of blueberry and crushed violets. Despite the warmth of the vintage, the wine is surprisingly fresh, the estate benefitting from its position on clay and limestone, resulting in greater water retention, as well as its old vines – averaging 57 years in age here. Medium-bodied, the round tannins are noticeable but beautifully integrated with the vibrant fruit. Recent vintages of La Clotte show progression year on year and the 2022 is no different.
Critic scores
Average Score
William Kelley, Wine Advocate
James Suckling
More reviews and scores
The 2022 La Clotte has turned out very well in bottle, offering up aromas of cassis, cherries and incense framed by a deft touch of toasty new oak. Medium to full-bodied, supple and suave, it's pure and seamless, with a lively spine of acidity and a long, saline finish. This small four-hectare estate on the outskirts of Saint-Émilion is establishing itself as one of the gems in the Vauthier portfolio.
The 2022 Château La Clotte is another serious wine in the lineup. Mulled black cherries, liquid violets, spicy wood, and smoky, chocolaty nuances are just some of this wine’s nuances, and it's medium full-bodied, has a pure, layered mouthfeel, silky tannins, and a gorgeous finish. It's one hell of a gorgeous Saint-Emilion that deserves 4-5 years of bottle age and will evolve for two decades.
The 2022 La Clotte, part of the Vauthier family stable of properties, has been impressive in recent vintages. The bouquet offers wonderful purity and delineation with blackcurrant, crushed violet and a hint of camphor. This is almost Margaux-like in style. The medium-bodied palate features a patina of new oak on the entry that will need to be absorbed as it matured entirely in new wood with moderated toasting. The finish is silky smooth, though it will require five or six years in bottle to fully integrate the oak.
About the producer
Ch. la Clotte is one of the Vauthier estates – along with Ch. Ausone. Classified as a Saint-Emilion Grand Cru, the estate comprises four hectares of 50-year-old vines on terraced vineyards on the famous limestone plateau.