Clos du Clocher 2020

The maturation has skilfully brought its fine attributes to a common denominator: fleshy and juicy, yet also substantial; immensely complex and of exemplary breed. Definitely allow it to age.

Herbal-edged raspberries and red cherries, bramble elements, coffee, tobacco, clove, dark chocolate, violets, roses and dark berries on the nose. Silky yet sleek, rich but firm, this shows focus straight away; crushed-velvet tannins provide cushioning, with cool blue and black fruit and a wet-stone, mineral grip that expands on the palate. Still a little closed, it’s tightly knit—you get the power and concentration—there’s density but it’s biding its time. A touch strict, but there’s a pixelation of elements with plenty of freshness. Just shy for now, this will grow into a beauty. Well executed and deliberate. Concentrated and classy with incredible length. Ageing 15 months, 60% new oak.

Aromas of ripe blackberries and spiced plums with licorice, dark chocolate, walnut and dried leaves. Medium- to full-bodied with layers of firm, finely grained tannins and a velvety texture. Toned and structured with a juicy, dark-fruited palate and a polished finish with hints of crushed stones. 75% merlot and 25% cabernet franc. Try after 2026.

If you ever wondered what flowers dipped in chocolate, with fresh-squeezed, sweet and spicy cherries smelled like, look no further. Medium-bodied, soft, and silky with fabulous lift and purity, the wine leaves you with velvet-textured plums and chocolate in the long finish. Could this be the best vintage of Clos du Clocher ever produced? Drink from 2024–2045.

Floral with violet, dark berries, cassis and generous but balanced oak. Good density, grip and volume, finely tuned with a bright freshness combined with ripeness and a long, lingering finish.

Another rock star wine from Pomerol, the 2020 Clos Du Clocher displays an inky purple hue along with gorgeous aromatics of violets, blackberries, and dark plums. Full-bodied, concentrated, and powerful on the palate, it offers beautiful brightness, ripe, building tannins, and a layered, seamless mouthfeel. This elegant yet structured Pomerol delivers remarkable purity along with impressive depth. Give it 4-5 years in the cellar and enjoy over the following two decades.

Deep purple with an opaque core and a delicate lilac rim. Seductively opulent bouquet with violet perfume, blueberry drops and lilac notes, followed by licorice, dark chocolate truffles and elderberry juice. On the supple palate, creamy texture, beguiling concentration, supportive vigor and a well-trained body. Aromatic finish of blue and black berries, a delicate graphite note and a fine, gently drying astringency.

Layers of luscious dark fruits, vivid and carefully drawn, bright and finessed, with great balance. Dense griotte cherries, raspberry, sage, violet, shot through with real freshness, crushed mint leaf and pomegranate. 60% new oak. Organic conversion officially began in 2021, but farming was entirely organic even then. An early harvest that marked a new era, where ripening happens earlier pretty much every year, something particularly felt in early-ripening areas like Pomerol and that underlines the importance of its clay soils in preserving freshness. Technical director Mathieu Bonté.

Made from 75% Merlot and 25% Cabernet Franc, the 2020 Clos du Clocher is deep garnet-purple in color. After a little swirling, notes of redcurrant jelly, fresh blueberries, and plum preserves jump from the glass, followed by hints of iron ore, lilacs, and chocolate box. The medium to full-bodied palate is elegantly crafted, with silky, fine-grained tannins and wonderful freshness, finishing long and shimmery. This is gorgeous!

93-94

A recent vertical tasting highlighted the exceptional potential of the estate’s single-vineyard plots and reminds us that Clos du Clocher may have been a sleeping beauty for a few years. But the latest vintages, confirmed by the great 2020, put the estate back in the spotlight. This wine achieves that rare balance between fruit richness, technical precision, and a saline dimension. The texture is remarkable, with a captivating embrace, mouthwatering intensity, and great length. It will surely rank among the estate’s great vintages, in the vein of 1947.

With its black hue with purple highlights and aromas of blackberry and blackcurrant on the nose, it leads us smoothly into a velvety texture, freshness and elegance. A 2020 that is full-bodied, graceful, lively and indulgent, with caressing tannins, complex, and a long, slightly spicy finish.

The 2020 first reveals freshness, depth, and thoughtfulness. It perfectly embodies Jean-Baptiste Bourotte’s choices: not to shine with flash, but rather with subtlety, reflection, and relevance. Shades of chocolate pair with peppermint, while notes of blackberry and blackcurrant highlight the inviting character. Dense on the attack, the wine confirms a clear focus on finesse and precision. It has breadth, but also a rigor that is nonetheless reinforced by charm and amplitude. A great wine.

The nose is spicy, broad, elegant, precise, airy, sappy, with a peppery edge. It reveals notes of wild blackcurrant, crushed strawberry and, more subtly, violet, combined with touches of warm gravel, a hint of bramble, spices and cardamom. The palate is beautifully handled—supple, fresh, plush, airy, gourmand—perfectly balanced and delicate. What a feel/texture! On the palate, the wine shows notes of pulpy blackcurrant, bright blueberry and, more subtly, cornflower, joined by hints of cherry blossom, cardamom, camphor, along with lovely elegant accents of roasted fruit, infusion, a hint of bergamot, dark chocolate, a subtle touch of toastiness, caramelization, and a delicate hint of vanilla. Precision throughout. A Mediterranean feel in the fruit profile. Note (Score): 17.25+/20

Dark, intense, beautiful, and vibrant color. Very aromatic nose with ripe, fresh fruit, becoming creamier with swirling, with a hint of citrus. Precise on the attack, rich and aromatic at mid‑palate, the wine unfolds smoothly, juicy, with a touch of oak just before the finish. Beautiful long, flavorful persistence.

A beautiful balance between concentration and freshness. This is a ripe, straight wine, in a tightly structured register (not meant pejoratively), expressing its terroir with great precision. Candied rose, peony, and freesia lend a floral character to this Clos du Clocher of remarkable density. A fine wine, showing great coherence from the first nose to the finish.