Wine Advisor
La Clotte 2015
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The 2015 La Clotte, now part of Alain Vauthier's portfolio, is a blend of 80% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. Pauline Vauthier told me that they had pulled up one-hectare of vines because of the condition, leaving three in production. It was macerated by pigeage only, no remontage. Matured in 85% new oak, that wood feels quite prominent at the moment, although there is sufficient fruit to absorb it. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin on the entry, very smooth and nicely poised with fine precision on the finish. Elegant and poised, this already shows an improvement in this estate since the Vauthiers acquired the vineyard.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
Pauline Vauthier considers the 2015 La Clotte to be the family’s maiden vintage after finishing the work in the winery after its acquisition in 2014 (there is also an ongoing replanting program). The oak barrel has integrated into the fruit since en primeur, though I would argue that it does not quite possess the sophistication of the Vauthier’s Haut Simard or Moulin St. Georges at the moment. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin, a fine thread of acidity, very pure in the mouth with blackberry, raspberry and veins of spice. There is pleasing depth to this La Clotte and impressive precision toward the finish. I have the feeling that La Clotte is going to be an exceptional wine in the future. This is the first step toward reaching those heights.
Reviewed by: Lisa Perrotti-Brown
This was the first vintage for the Vauthier family of Château Ausone off this tiny three-hectare estate. Composed of 80% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon aged for 18 months in French oak barrels, 85% new, the 2015 La Clotte displays a medium to deep garnet-purple color and a very spicy nose of cinnamon stick, cloves, star anise and allspice over core of red and black currants, mulberries and black soil plus a waft of violets. Full-bodied and decadently fruited with a firm backbone of very ripe, beautifully velvety tannins, it has a lively backbone providing loads of lift throughout the very long finish.
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
The 2015 La Clotte presents a striking interplay of aromatics, fruit and structure. Beams of tannin give La Clotte much of its distinctive personality. Espresso, mocha, leather, dark cherry, savor herbs and plum open up nicely in the glass. La Clotte is one of the least expressive wines in the Vauthier family's range this year, yet it offers outstanding potential, not to mention tons of class. The Cabernet Franc is particularly expressive here. The 2015 is 80% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon projected to spend 18 months in oak, 85% new.
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+.
