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.

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.

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.

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.