Wine Advisor
La Clotte 2005
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
This is a sensational effort from this small, 10-acre vineyard that produced only 1,330 cases in 2005. A blend of 80% Merlot and the rest primarily Cabernet Franc and a dollop of Cabernet Sauvignon, this hedonistic, opulent St.-Emilion exhibits a dense ruby/purple color as well as notes of black cherries, melted licorice, roasted herbs, creosote, and spice box. Fleshy and chewy with medium to full body, adequate acidity, and ripe tannin, it can be enjoyed during its first 15 years of life. Michel Rolland’s top assistant, Jean-Philippe Fort, is the consultant.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
Another top-notch effort from this modestly-sized estate, La Clotte’s 2005 (80% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon) was made under the guidance of Michel Rolland’s top employee, Jean-Philippe Fort. Great intensity, an inky/ruby/purple color, sweet black cherry and berry fruit, and abundant amounts of spice box, licorice, and herb characteristics make for a round, opulent, voluptuous impression. Tannin that creeps in at the finish suggests this wine may close down after bottling. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2023+.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
One of the sexiest, most hedonistic wines of the vintage, La Clotte’s 2005 (fewer than 1,400 cases produced from this 10-acre vineyard) is a blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. An exquisite perfume of underbrush, charcoal, kirsch, spice box, chocolate, and espresso soars from the glass of this full-bodied claret. With low acidity for the vintage, sweet tannin, and a fleshy, multilayered mouthfeel, this decadent St.-Emilion should last longer than its precocious showing in March suggests. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2025.
About the Producer
Located in the Saint-Emilion appellation of Bordeaux, France, Chateau La Clotte sits on one of the oldest vineyards on the Right Bank of Bordeaux. The vineyard covers 4 hectares and is planted to Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon, mainly on clay and limestone soils. The vines are old, with an average age of almost 50 years, and planted at a density of 6,500 vines per hectare. During the ripening stage, the winery conducts regular experimental analyses in order to determine the final harvesting time. For the winemaking, the grapes are picked by hand, macerated at low temperatures and fermented in stainless steel tanks equipped with temperature control facilities. During this period, daily drenching, cap pressing and tank decanting and back-mixing are carried out to enhance the contact between the juice and the skins in order to extract more pigments and tannins. After fermentation, the wine is aged in 50% new French oak barrels, depending on the quality of the grapes, usually around 15 months. The wine produced by Château La Clotte is called Chateau La Clotte, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru Classe, France. The wines are of excellent quality, reasonably priced, rich in minerality, rich and full-bodied, and loved by the elite of the wine industry. Recent vintages of Château Claret have won praise from several wine critics and wine review magazines, including Robert Parker Points, James Suckling and Wine Enthusiast, for their excellent quality, including a 95+ score for the 2015 vintage. with a score of 95+.
