Clos Du Clocher, Pomerol

Description

Clos du Clocher is a wine estate located in the Pomerol wine-growing appellation. Clos du Clocher comprises three parcels of vineyards, 150 yards apart and situated 300 yards south of the church in Pomerol. It is surrounded by the most famous growths of the appellation.

Clos du Clocher was founded in 1924 when the first parcel of vines was bought by negociant Jean Baptiste Audy, a succesful Bordeaux negociant who also own several Chateaux. Today the estate is owned and managed by Jean Baptiste Audy’s grandson Pierre Bourotte and his son Jean-Baptiste. As well as Clos du Clocher, they also own Château Bonalgue (Pomerol), Château Monregard la Croix (Pomerol), Château Les Hauts-Conseillants (Lalande de Pomerol), Château du Courlat (Lussac-Saint-Emilion). Robert Parker really rates this lesser-known Pomerol – “For unknown reasons, this Pomerol estate remains under most consumers’ radar, but they have been fashioning strong efforts over recent vintages. The wine [exhibits] terrific fruit, a textured mouthfeel, and an impressive finish.”

The soils at Clos du Clocher are composed of the famous dense iron-rich clay that Pomerol is famous for. The vineyards are planted with 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc with an average age of 39 years old. There is some deleafing and leaf trimming in the vineyards which are treated with sustainable, organic treatments against some diseases or parasites as required. The grapes are hand harvested into small baskets and double sorted, once in the vineyard and once at the winery where they are also de-stalked. The winemaking is traditional and carried out in stainless steel and cement thermo-regulated vats. After around a 4-week-vatting time, malolactic fermentation takes place in oak barrels, and / or vats, depending on the parcels and the vintage. The wine is aged for up to 18 months in French oak barrels (two thirds new and one third one year old).

Annual production is around 20,000 bottles per year.