Wine of the Month - May 2022

$250.00
Out of stock
SKU
WOM-0522

Other Vintages We Offer:

• Laguna Cellar Wine of the Month

Laguna Cellar features A Vertical Selection of Clos du Clocher (2016 - 2019)

There are certain properties that are considered favorites of industry insiders and Clos du Clocher would be one of them.  This Pomerol estate is home to some truly extraordinary terroir and some exceptional neighbors.  The cult producer, Le Pin, is down the road from this 4.6-hectare estate.  One cannot help but wonder why an estate with a combination of factors including a talented winemaking team and the same terroirs as legends like Château Pétrus is still so affordably priced.  Still, we’re not complaining.  It might be considered prudent for industry insiders to zealously guard the secrets of this property, so it remains such a screaming value. Yet with that in consideration, we don’t mind sharing that privileged bit of information with our valued customers.   Clos du Clocher is well worth the buy, and who knows how long it will be before the secret of this estate gets out.

Clos du Clocher is still a young estate and is a little under a century old.  The property was founded in 1924 by Jean Baptiste Audy, who purchased one small plot of vines near the church of Pomerol.  Jean Baptiste Audy was no stranger to the wine trade; he was a négociant (wine merchant) before he added this property to his extensive holdings.  The estate is currently managed by Jean Baptiste Audy’s descendant, Jean Baptiste Bourotte.  The family still owns the original négociant company in the city of Libourne, the business center of the Right Bank.   Since 2009, production levels have been steadily mounting in terms of critical acclaim, yet price remains very reasonable. 

Clos du Clocher is known for its iron rich terroir that is home to plantings of Merlot and Cabernet Franc.  The vignerons at the estate compare the terroir to Château Pétrus, because the soil composition is similar.  Elevation here is a bit higher.  The majority of the vines are an average of 25 years old, and some of the oldest vines date back to 1957.  Everything is harvested and tended to by hand, and there is a very rigorous selection process for the grand vin at Clos du Clocher.  Michel Rolland has been hired as the consultant at Clos du Clocher and in 2010 the estate underwent extensive renovations.  At this time, the cellar has been renovated and some of the most cutting-edge technology implemented at the estate.  Clos du Clocher practices a process called micro-vinification with a small percentage of their vines, by vinifying them in 100% French Oak.  Though a lot of wines out of Pomerol are appreciated because of their accessibility, Clos du Clocher needs a little bit of time in bottle before it can fully develop.  This tremendous potential for ageing is what makes it not just a good wine, but a great one.  One can expect these wines to reach their optimum expression after 3 to 5 years in bottle, though that does vary depending on the character of the wine. 

In order to fully understand the promise of the terroir at Clos du Clocher, one has to take into consideration where the vines are growing on the Pomerol plateau.  The map shows in red where the plots of this outstanding property are located, sharing some top-notch terroir with luminous neighbors who need no introduction.  

Tasting Notes

Clos du Clocher 2016 - "The 2016 Clos du Clocher is medium to deep garnet-purple colored and very earthy on the nose with cigar box, forest floor, truffles and charcoal aromas with black cherries and baked red and black plums. Elegantly styled, the palate is medium-bodied with perfumed fruit, a fine-grained frame and a long refreshing finish." Lisa Perotti-Brown, The Wine Advocate: Interim End Of November 2018 (11/30/2018) Rating: 94 Drink: 2021-2039

Clos du Clocher 2017 -"Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, the 2017 Clos du Clocher bursts from the glass with bold blueberry preserves, Christmas cake and baked plums scents plus nuances of raspberry leaves, unsmoked cigar and tapenade. Medium to full-bodied, the palate reveals mouth-filling blackberry and spicy layers, framed by firm, rounded tannins and seamless freshness, finishing long." - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, (3/16/2020), Rating: 92+, Drink: 2020 - 2034

Clos du Clocher 2018 -"Composed of 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc, the deep purple-black colored 2018 Clos du Clocher slips sensuously out of the glass with kirsch, black cherry compote and preserved plums scents with hints of Chinese five spice, candied violets and Ceylon tea. Full-bodied, rich and laden with black fruit preserves and exotic spice layers, it has a soft texture and just a spark of mid-palate freshness, finishing long and opulent." - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, (4/23/2019, Bordeaux 2018 Issue), Rating: 94-96

Clos du Clocher 2019 -"Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2019 Clos du Clocher needs a little coaxing to reveal subtle scents of black raspberries, kirsch and wild blueberries, before a drop-dead gorgeous perfume of candied violets, cinnamon stick, clove oil, Darjeeling tea and star anise take center stage. The medium to full-bodied palate is very finely knit, with ripe, plush tannins and seamless freshness supporting the elegant flavors, finishing long and fragrant." Lisa Perotti-Brown, The Wine Advocate (06/17/2020) Rating: 93-95

More Information
Stock Status Out of Stock
Appellation Pomerol
Brand Laguna Cellar
Shipping Weight 13.000000

Footnotes on Futures, Pre-Arrivals, and potential US Tariffs: 

1. As of June 15, 2021, the US and the EU agreed to suspend tariffs resulting from the Boeing-Airbus aircraft trade disputes. Accordingly, such import taxes are now suspended for the next five years.

2. Futures are expected to be available for delivery two years after the sales (e.g., the 2022 vintage, sold in 2023, will be delivered in 2025 mostly, or 2026 if the producer ages the wine longer).

3. Pre-Arrivals are items currently stored in our Bordeaux cellar or in transit from France to the US. It usually takes 1-6 months for Pre-Arrivals to become available for delivery, depending on the stage of the import process.

4. Regarding futures and pre-arrivals, we cannot guarantee specific delivery dates, which factors beyond our control may impact. However, we will notify you once your wine arrives in our cellar.

5. While a buyer of Bordeaux wine futures locks in an allocation of the specified items, the final delivery of the purchased items from France to the US may be impacted by intervening and unforeseeable events. Despite our due diligence, additional costs or delays may be caused by such intervening and unforeseen events and "an irresistible, superhuman cause, or by the act of public enemies of the state of California or the United States."  In such circumstances, if a buyer does not accept unforeseeable costs or delays, the sole and exclusive remedy is a cancellation of the futures order concerned and a refund of the original purchase price. We are NOT liable for any lost profits on a canceled order.

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