Clotte (la) - Saint-Emilion 2022

Alexandre Ma

95

byAlexandre Mathe3/10/2025

Though the toasted notes from its En Primeur stage were once prominent, now in bottle, this wine unfurls a breathtaking violet fragrance, cascading like a floral tapestry across an entire wall, immersing you in a sea of blossoms. Waves of succulent fruit envelop the palate, followed by a saline limestone finish that quietly deepens its complexity. As Saint-Émilion wines grow ever more flamboyant, Château La Clotte remains a timeless classic, preserving the soul of its limestone terroir with purity and grace. A true “wine of terroir,” it invites wine lovers to explore its depths with patience and appreciation.

Wine Advocate

94

byWilliam Kelleythe3/7/2025

The 2022 La Clotte has turned out very well in bottle, offering up aromas of cassis, cherries and incense framed by a deft touch of toasty new oak. Medium to full-bodied, supple and suave, it's pure and seamless, with a lively spine of acidity and a long, saline finish. This small four-hectare estate on the outskirts of Saint-Émilion is establishing itself as one of the gems in the Vauthier portfolio.

Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux

96

byJane Ansonthe3/7/2025

Delivers precise and vivid black cherry and raspberry fruits, with fennel, aniseed, cocoa bean, sea spray, grip, plenty of personality and lift, such a confident and nuanced vintage of La Clotte, now going from strength to strength. 100% new oak, last year organic conversion.

The Wine Cellar Insider

95

byJeff Levethe3/4/2025

La Clotte, Château

Jeb DUNNUCK

97

byJeb Dunnuckthe2/28/2025

The 2022 Château La Clotte is another serious wine in the lineup. Mulled black cherries, liquid violets, spicy wood, and smoky, chocolaty nuances are just some of this wine’s nuances, and it's medium full-bodied, has a pure, layered mouthfeel, silky tannins, and a gorgeous finish. It's one hell of a gorgeous Saint-Emilion that deserves 4-5 years of bottle age and will evolve for two decades.

Yvesbeck.wine

90

byYves Beckthe2/25/2025

Beaucoup de finesse dans ce bouquet où élevage, fraîcheur et notes fruitées créent une harmonie invitante. Plutôt élancé, le vin est bien tenu par des tannins veloutés conférant un peu d'étoffe, tandis que l'acidité assure le côté structurant. Un vin sapide et désaltérant à apprécier dès son plus jeune âge, mais nul besoin de se presser, il a suffisamment de substance pour passer un peu de temps en cave. 2025-2034 90/100

Vinous

93

byNeal Martinthe2/12/2025

The 2022 La Clotte, part of the Vauthier family stable of properties, has been impressive in recent vintages. The bouquet offers wonderful purity and delineation with blackcurrant, crushed violet and a hint of camphor. This is almost Margaux-like in style. The medium-bodied palate features a patina of new oak on the entry that will need to be absorbed as it matured entirely in new wood with moderated toasting. The finish is silky smooth, though it will require five or six years in bottle to fully integrate the oak.

Jamessuckling.com

95

byJames Sucklingthe2/3/2025

Beautifully ripe yet fresh, with ink, graphite, paprika, lush dark cherries, minerals and cocoa powder. Full-bodied and firm yet open-grained, with polished tannins and a very long finish. Drink from 2027.

Vinous

94

byAntonio Gallonithe1/28/2025

The 2022 La Clotte is very, very young. Dense and packed to the core, the 2022 is going to need a number of years to be at its best, as it is quite raw today. Intense dark red fruit, cedar, tobacco, mint and dried flowers open with some coaxing. A healthy dollop of Cabernet Franc (15%) adds aromatic presence while lending salinity to the mid-palate and finish. The 100% new oak here is evident.

Wine Maniacs

93-94

byLin Liuthe5/30/2023

Decanter.com

92

byGeorgina Hindlethe5/25/2023

Perfumed aromas, floral with bramble notes. Tangy and a touch sharp straight away, a tiny bit sour. There's a sense of leanness and focus that keeps it straight and tense but there’s nice juicy blackcurrant and red cherry fruit. Feels a little pent up, the Cabernet Franc coming through quite strongly and shutting down some of the fruit enjoyment, though this does feel precise in terms of definition. Tannins are filling though there is a sense of alcohol that sticks out on the finish. 3.73pH. Harvest 8 and 20 September for Merlot, 27 September for Cabernet Franc

Alexandre Ma

94-96

byAlexandre Mathe5/17/2023

Although the toasty aroma of the barrel is still quite prominent, upon swirling the glass, the fragrance of violets bursts forth, climbing up the walls with its delicate tendrils. The juicy and succulent flavors of fresh fruit envelop the palate, soon followed by a salty, limestone finish. Amidst the ever-growing list of flamboyant Saint-Émilion, Château La Clotte stands out as a timeless classic, a manifestation of "vin de terroir" which safeguards the soul of Saint-Émilion limestone with pure authenticity.

Vinous

92-94

byNeal Martinthe5/17/2023

The 2022 La Clotte was picked 8 to 27 September and aged for 18 months in French oak. It has quite a floral bouquet with a light marine/briny tincture in the background. The palate is medium-bodied with smooth tannins, fine acidity, some oak to be assimilated but it has a gorgeous creamy texture. Certainly a step up from the 2021, this is a fine La Clotte that should drink well for 15 to 20 years.

The Vintage Journal

94-95

byAndrew Caillard MWthe5/17/2023

Deep crimson. Wax polish, shellac, dark plum vanilla aromas. Sweet fruited but oak dominant palate with juicy dark plum, vanilla, wax polish earthy flavours, sturdy and chalky tannins, very good richness and mineral length with bittersweet notes. 85% Merlot 15% Cabernet Franc 15% alc

Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux

95

byJane Ansonthe5/16/2023

This is a wine that is worth watching every year right now, growing in confidence, precision, flesh, and terroir character. Brilliantly fleshy plum and raspberry fruits, chocolate, salinity, with a charred coffee bean edge. Harvest September 8 to 27. Conversion to organic farming began in 2020. 100% new oak, and new equipment in the winery, with smaller-sized vats. Great stuff from the Vauthier family.

matthewjukes.com

17,5

byMatthew Jukesthe5/15/2023

The Wine Independent

92-94

byLisa Perrotti-Brownthe5/15/2023

A blend of 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc, La Clotte 2022 is deep garnet-purple in color. It sashays out with provocative notes of spiced plums, boysenberry preserves, and potpourri, leading to hints of star anise and black olives. The full-bodied palate is rich, plush, and perfumed, delivering fantastic freshness and a long, wonderfully pure finish.

Yvesbeck.wine

95-96

byYves Beckthe5/10/2023

D'entrée La Clotte pose les jalons en révélant une belle intensité fruitée au travers de parfums de cassis, de griottes et de myrtilles complétées par une touche de torréfaction. Le vin est ample, friand, bien structuré et soutenu par des tannins dont la puissance est parfaitement canalisée. Ils sont secondés par une acidité rafraîchissante qui plébiscite l'expression aromatique en fin de bouche. Un vin très abouti qui crée le lien entre finesse et puissance. Très belle réussite.

Bettane & Desseauve

96

by Bettane & Desseauvethe5/10/2023

85 % de merlot et 15 % de cabernet franc donnent au tannin un toucher suave et enrobant, d’une grande distinction. C’est la classe.

Jeb DUNNUCK

94-97

byJeb Dunnuckthe5/10/2023

Coming from vines southwest of the village and 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc, the 2022 Château La Clotte is one of my favorites in the lineup from the Vauthier family in 2022. Ripe black cherries, red plums, espresso, baking spices, and a beautiful sense of minerality all define the aromatics, and it's medium to full-bodied, with nicely integrated oak, ripe tannins, and a great finish.

Vinous

92-95

byAntonio Gallonithe5/9/2023

The 2022 La Clotte is rich, sensual and super-expressive. An exotic mélange of succulent red fruit, cedar, tobacco, dried herbs and blood orange opens in the glass. More than anything else, the 2022 impresses with its balance and integrity. Already quite seamless in presentation, the 2022 is a gorgeous wine in the making. The blend is 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc, picked between September 8 and 27. Aging is expected to be 18 months. Drinking window : 2027-2042

The Wine Cellar Insider

93-95

byJeff Levethe5/5/2023

Black plums, black cherries, licorice, and black raspberries with a floral edge lead to a richly-textured wine loaded with supple, creamy, soft, dark red fruits, licorice, spice, and salty chocolate that comes in at the backend of the finish. The wine blends 85% Merlot, with 15% Cabernet Franc. 15% ABV, 3.73 pH. Drink from 2025-2040.

Wine Advocate

92-94

byWilliam Kelleythe5/2/2023

From a holding on the limestone plateau just outside the village, the 2022 La Clotte is one of the high points of the Vauthier portfolio this year, offering up attractive aromas of cherries, minty blackberries and raw cocoa, followed by a medium to full-bodied, supple and charming palate with a deep core of fruit, lively acids and refined tannins.

Jamessuckling.com

92-93

byJames Sucklingthe4/19/2023

Intense fruit with cherries and redcurrants that are exuberant. Full and layered with lots of fruit. 85% merlot and 15% cabernet franc.