Clos de Clocher

Clos du Clocher was founded in 1924 by Jean Baptiste Audy who started out with a small plot of vines near the church of Pomerol. The property was put together and created in a piecemeal fashion, one parcel or row of vines at a time. Since the original formation of Clos du Clocher, the estate has grown to three plots, totaling 4.6 hectares in their Right Bank vineyards. Jean Baptiste Audy, who is responsible for the creation of Clos du Clocher was already familiar with the Bordeaux wine trade, as he was already an experienced Bordeaux wine negociant before he added chateau owner and winemaker to his portfolio. Clos du Clocher in Pomerol is situated in the Catusseau sector, not too far from Chateau La Croix St. Georges. The 4.6 hectare Clos du Clocher Pomerol vineyard is planted to 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc. The terroir is clay, gravel and sand soils.

Almost opaque in colour, with a very forward and overt nose, powerful and condensed. The fruit structure is stewed, thick and very ripe, with layers of cherry, bitter chocolate, cassis, mocha and cayenne. The wine has a tremendous weight and texture in the mouth, almost creamy. The tannins, ripe and rounded, gain power toward the finish, framing the wine in a solid yet yielding structure. Notes of graphite and capsicum give more complexity and an underlying impression of freshness and savoury quality that really appeals. A top, top Pomerol!

Perfectly paired with beef wellington with roasted butternut squash and greens.

Yields of 39hl/ha. Fermentation caried out plot by plot, in small stainless and cement vats with manual pumping over and punching of the caps. The malolactic fermentation took place in barrel. Aged for 18 months in fine-grained French oak barrels, 60% new.