Clos du Clocher
Established in 1924, when négociant Jean-Baptiste Audy purchased a small parcel of land on the Pomerol plateau, within sight of the bell tower of the Église Saint-Jean.
Subsequent purchases in 1931 and 1941 expanded the domaine, with cellars eventually built on the edge of the hamlet of Catusseau. Today, the estate is run by Audy’s great-grandson, Jean-Baptiste Bourotte. It comprises four key vineyard plots, the finest of which sit on the blue clay and gravels of the Pomerol plateau.
The estate produces just 2,000 cases per vintage. This tiny production yields consistently exceptional quality, making Clos du Clocher one of Pomerol’s finest yet most undervalued estates.
The average vine age is 25–30 years, with some plots dating to 1957 (planted after the devastating 1956 frost). A few Cabernet Franc vines are among the oldest in Bordeaux, exceeding 100 years of age. These exceptionally old and rare vines sit at 30–35 meters elevation, nestled among prestigious neighbours including Château Latour-Pomerol, Château La Fleur-Pétrus, and Château Trotanoy. They survived the 1956 frost that devastated much of the region.
The vineyards are planted to 75% Merlot and 25% Cabernet Franc on blue clay and gravel soils. The wine is aged for 18 months in French oak barrels, approximately 60% new.
2020 Tasting Note
At a recent tasting, the 2020 vintage was outstanding — drinking beautifully now, with decades of further evolution ahead. Restrained yet seductive on the nose, it offers violets, blueberries, mulberries, fresh coffee, expensive chocolate, and graphite shavings. With more air, with every swirl and sniff, it transforms from charming and refined into something magical — a caster of spells.
The palate is beautifully structured with the finesse, depth, and velvety texture that define great Pomerol. Forest berries flood the mid-palate with delightful ripeness and freshness, joined by milk chocolate, espresso, bay leaf, clove, and subtle truffle. Fine-grained tannins carry the wine to a long, mineral finish, where the vibrant, attractive fruit lingers effortlessly.
This is a magnificent Pomerol and remarkably fair value for this level of quality.
95/100
Darren Gall
