2020 Clos du Clocher Pomerol France

Clos du Clocher may have started small, but its story is one of steady growth and refinement. Founded in 1924 by Jean Baptiste Audy, this hidden gem in Pomerol has been a family affair, lovingly built one row of vines at a time. Today, it's a vineyard spanning 4.6 hectares in the illustrious Right Bank, and the wines coming out of here have never been better.

With a blend dominated by 70% Merlot and rounded out with 30% Cabernet Franc, 2020 is a stellar vintage from this estate. The vineyard’s best plots sit near famed neighbors like Chateau La Fleur Petrus and Trotanoy, sharing the same clay, gravel, and sand soils. It’s no wonder that Clos du Clocher has started turning heads among serious collectors—though prices haven’t yet caught up with the quality. You know what that means. It's time to discover this exceptional wine before the rest of the world does.

Jean Baptiste Audy wasn’t just a chateau owner; he was also a skilled Bordeaux negociant who knew what great wine should be. Under the guidance of his descendant, Jean Baptiste Bourotte, and with the expertise of the world-renowned consultant Michel Rolland, the estate continues to push the boundaries of winemaking. They’ve invested in cutting-edge techniques like micro-vinification, fermenting a portion of their grapes entirely in French oak barrels to add depth and complexity to the final wine.

Clos du Clocher’s 2020 vintage showcases the vineyard’s finest terroir. It’s a wine of grace, depth, and sophistication—driven by lush, velvety Merlot and punctuated by the elegance of old-vine Cabernet Franc, some of which date back over 100 years! With every sip, you’ll taste the clay-rich soils of the Catusseau sector, the gravelly layers that add complexity, and the vines that share the same slopes as the most revered names in Bordeaux.

Clos du Clocher is a rising star in Pomerol, with prices still very much under the radar for the quality on offer. Whether you’re collecting for your cellar or looking for a refined wine to impress, Clos du Clocher is one to watch.

2020 was an outstanding year for Bordeaux. Vinous Media blessed this year with a 98-point review and said, "Two thousand-twenty is an exceptional vintage for Bordeaux, certainly the best in the 2018-2020 trilogy. Quality is exceptionally high among the great wines of Saint-Émilion and Pomerol."

Aging: 16-20 months in 60% new French oak