La Clotte sits just to the east of the town of St Emilion, as close to the city walls as you can get without falling over them. This is the heart of the appelation well up on the plateau, its durable limestone bedrock scraped with a thin topsoil of clay. The vines enjoy a wonderful south-facing aspect.
The aromatic profile is classic, with notes of toasted blackcurrant and blackberry, swirled with fresher nuances of bay leaf and green peppercorn. In keeping with this fresh style the palate shows a reserved tense, almost austere character, that firm limestone-derived confidence shining through, giving the wine an abundance of grip, and yet the finish soothes, showing length and warmth. This is good for drinking now, but will certainly do another five years in the cellar, by which point it should be singing. (Wine Doctor: 93/100)
