Clos du Clocher 2022

A stunning wine in 2022 showcasing star power in Pomerol and delivering one of the appellation’s clear successes. Beautifully fragrant on the nose, fresh and ripe black fruits, purple flowers, milk chocolate, salty stones and liquorice. Smooth, sumptuous and seductive in terms of texture - tannins are beautifully chalky and so well integrated - almost effortlessly supporting the concentrated fruit and giving the confident structure. Focussed and detailed but not tight or tense, really quite a special effort. Energy and mouthwatering acidity is in the background but it’s the texture that’s most captivating, velvety, chalky, ripe, fleshy and refined all at once. It manages to be understated in a year where it was easy to be anything but. I love it. 3.6pH. A yield of 39hl/ha. Harvest started on 7 September. Soft extraction with natural yeasts for fermentation. Ageing 55-60% oak barrels, 30% one wine barrels, and 7% in small concrete tanks and wine globes. Second year of organic conversion. Next year, 2024, Clos du Clocher will celebrate its 100 year anniversary having been founded by Jean-Baptiste Audy in 1924.

The 2022 Clos Du Clocher is a stunning effort, offering red and black fruits, iron, graphite, leafy herbs, and floral violet notes. Full-bodied and concentrated, it has a gorgeous mouthfeel, velvety tannins, and remarkable balance. Seamless and elegant, with very fine tannins, it’s one of the best examples I’ve tasted from this estate, which lies on the upper plateau, in the heart of the appellation, just beside the church. It will have 30 years of longevity.

The 2022 Clos du Clocher is superb. In fact, the 2022 is one of the best vintages of this wine I have tasted. Pliant and deep, the 2022 is all finesse. Dark red cherry, mocha, new leather, spice and licorice all meld together. The 2022 is substantial but not at all overdone.

The 2022 Clos du Clocher needs time to open in the glass. It's quite sedated at first, gradually unfolding to reveal lovely blackberry, briar and cedar aromas. The 55% new oak is neatly integrated. Perhaps this is not as powerful as other vintages, but it's very refined. The palate is medium-bodied, extremely well balanced and pure, with pliant, quite saturated tannins and a silky texture, exerting a gentle grip on the finish. Often overlooked amongst the Pomerol firmament, this should not be ignored.