Clos de l'Oratoire - Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2020

Wine Advocate

92 / 100

byWilliam Kelleythe4/6/2023

The 2020 Clos de l'Oratoire is seamless and charming, offering up aromas of sweet cherries, blackberries, violets and licorice, followed by a medium to full-bodied, velvety and harmonious palate. This gourmand, Merlot-dominant bottling will offer a wide drinking window.

Wine Spectator

91 / 100

byJames Molesworththe3/31/2023

Reveals ripe plum and blackberry fruit that meld nicely with hints of anise, black tea and singed alder. The focused and fine-grained finish has a late savory sparkle for range. Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Drink now through 2034. 3,500 cases made, 400 cases imported.

Jeb DUNNUCK

94 / 100

byJeb Dunnuckthe3/30/2023

Another head-turningly good Right Bank is the 2020 Clos De L'Oratoire, which comes from the team of Stephan von Neipperg. This medium to full-bodied, focused, elegant 2020 has good concentration, the vintage's pure, layered profile, classic aromas of black raspberry, cassis, graphite, and flowers, and plenty of chalky minerality on the finish. A quintessential 2020, give bottles 2-4 years and enjoy over the following decade or so.

The Wine Cellar Insider

92 / 100

byJeff Levethe3/22/2023

Savory red fruits, citrus, dried flowers, and tobacco leaf nuances form the core of this elegant, fresh, medium-bodied wine. There is vibrancy, cut, and freshness to the fruits with a blend of orange peel, kirsch, and savory herbs in the finish. This will be delicious on release and should age for close to 2 decades. Drink from 2023-2038.

Vinous

94.00 / 100

byAntonio Gallonithe2/24/2023

The 2020 Clos de l'Oratoire is a powerhouse. Blackberry, gravel, smoke, incense, crushed rocks and dried herbs hit the palate as this potent, structured Saint-Émilion opens up. This is an especially virile, tannic wine that is going to need time to settle down. The balance of fruit intensity and structure is compelling, to say the least. But this needs time.

Vinous

91 / 100

byNeal Martinthe2/15/2023

The 2020 Clos de l'Oratoire retains the precocious bouquet it demonstrated from barrel: black cherries, boysenberry and fresh fig hints. There's plenty of energy and a soupçon of exoticism. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins. A little firmness provides the backbone and adequate salinity with an unpretentious, approachable finish. This is a charming 2020 that will offer 15-20 years of drinking pleasure.

Vinous

92-94 / 100

byAntonio Gallonithe6/1/2021

The 2020 Clos de l'Oratoire is wonderfully savory. Lavender, mint, sage, licorice and spice lend striking aromatic nuance to a Clos de l'Oratoire that emphasizes energy over volume, as has sometimes been the case in the past. The blueberry and blackberry fruit is finely sculpted in a wine that impresses with its vibrancy and drive. Clean, mineral notes inform the brisk finish. The 2020 is such a classy wine.

Tastingbook.com

94 / 100

byMarkus Del Monegothe5/28/2021

Dark purple colour with violet hue and black core. Expressive nose with rich aroma reminiscent of ripe plums, blackberries and black cherries, hints of mild spices and discreet flowery character in the background. On the palate well structured juicy fruit, discreet spiciness, subtle oak and good aromatic length. A wine in an refined style with freshness.

Jeb DUNNUCK

93-95 / 100

byJeb Dunnuckthe5/28/2021

This wine seems to always deliver, and I loved the 2020 Clos De L'Oratoire. Lots of black cherries, subtle cassis, notes of lead pencil and violets, medium to full-bodied richness, and a balanced, elegant texture all make for a beautiful Saint-Emilion. It picks up more minerality with time in the glass, and its purity of fruit is top-notch. It will keep for at least two decades

Vinous

89-91 / 100

byNeal Martinthe5/27/2021

The 2020 Clos de l’Oratoire is very cohesive on the nose of plush blackberry, raspberry, melted tar and light licorice scents, the latter becoming more vocal with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied and quite firm and structured, with gentle grip on the entry and good acidity. Tightens up toward a finish that doesn’t want to give everything away at this prenatal stage. Give this 3–4 years once in bottle. because it has long-term potential.

Decanter.com

92 / 100

byJane Ansonthe5/25/2021

Confident and grippy with liquorice, cherry, rosemary, dried herbs and chocolate. It lifts and tightens through the plate, good tension, broad-shouldered, powerful and intense. 40% new oak. A yield of 32.5hl/ha.

The Wine Cellar Insider

91-93 / 100

byJeff Levethe5/21/2021

Medium-bodied, floral, soft, elegant, silky and almost ready to go, here you find polished, plums and cherries with a gentle touch of chocolate on the palate and in the fruit-filled finish. The wine was made from blending 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc. 91-93

Jamessuckling.com

94-95 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe5/12/2021

A rather mineral and spicy red with medium to full body, showing blackberries and black walnuts. There’s a deep, polished tannin backbone to this. Racy and fine.

Anthocyanes

91-93 / 100

byYohan Castaingthe5/11/2021

Avec un joli nez de fruits frais, de cerise, de cassis et de myrtille, le bouquet du Clos de l'Oratoire est frais et gourmand. En bouche, texture charnue, une belle tension calcaire avec des tanins structurants, légèrement marquants mais frais. Une belle puissance.