2023 Guillot Clauzel

The 2023 Guillot-Clauzel is just as beautiful as it was en primeur . In recent years, Guillaume Thienpont has done a terrific job in exalting the fruit here while also dialing back extractions and oak. Those changes yield a very friendly, open-knit Pomerol that is incredibly charming. Hints of blue-toned fruit, lavender and spice resonate on the close.

Guillaume Thienpont from Vieux Chateau Certan is the winemaker for Guillot Clauzel. It is a 2 ha property and the 2023 is a blend of 83% Merlot and 17% Cabernet Franc. It is aging in oak barrels, of which 30% are new and it has a deep garnet-purple color. Notes of juicy black plums, juicy cherries, and black raspberries spill from the glass, giving way to hints of aniseed, Sichuan pepper, and crushed rocks, plus a hint of lavender. The medium-bodied palate delivers pure black and red berry flavors with enticing savory accents, a velvety texture, and a refreshing finish.

The 2023 Château Guillot Clauzel is based on 83% Merlot, 17% Cabernet Franc, 33% new oak, from two hectares of vines planted in gravelly, clay soils just across the street from Le Pin. It has a pretty perfume of mostly red fruits, leafy tobacco, spice, and flowers, as well as medium-bodied richness and depth on the palate. A beautifully balanced, elegant 2023 with good ripeness, fine tannins, and nicely integrated acidity, it should easily be an outstanding wine.