2025 Château La Clotte Saint-Émilion Grand Cru

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Château La Clotte 2025 is one of the smallest and most exceptional estates in Saint-Émilion. Under the guidance of the Vauthier family, known for Château Ausone, a wine is created here that combines richness and refinement. The 2025 displays concentration, tension, and a striking chalky freshness with a subtle salty undertone.

Château La Clotte

Château La Clotte is not a classic château, but a small and extremely special estate of just four hectares on the south side of Saint-Émilion. Since the acquisition by the Vauthier family in 2014, La Clotte has grown into one of the most intriguing projects within the portfolio of the same family behind Château Ausone.

The name “La Clotte” refers to a historic winemaker’s home literally carved into the limestone slopes of Saint-Émilion. Even today, that unique location plays a leading role. The wine cellar is situated deep within the village’s underground limestone quarries, where vinification and aging take place in a naturally cool, humid, and stable environment. You can find more information about the château under the Winery tab.

Origin and terroir

The vineyards of Château La Clotte are situated on south- and northwest-facing terraces on the outskirts of Saint-Émilion. The combination of limestone and clay soils creates a style that feels both rich and refined. The south-facing terraces provide optimal ripeness and concentration, while cooler northwest-facing plots add tension and freshness.

In 2025, La Clotte benefited optimally from the warm and dry conditions. The grapes achieved an impressive concentration, but thanks to the calcareous soils, freshness was preserved. Notably, some plots were harvested in multiple passes to achieve maximum precision, a method that, according to the Vauthier family, was previously reserved primarily for Château Ausone.

Grapes and vinification

The blend of Château La Clotte 2025 consists of 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc. Merlot provides the rich, velvety core of the wine, while Cabernet Franc adds refinement, freshness, and aromatic lift.

The grapes were harvested by hand between September 8 and 18, with multiple selection rounds in some plots to use only perfectly ripe fruit. Following careful selection, vinification by plot followed with manual pigeage and gentle maceration in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks. The wine then ages for approximately 18 months in new oak barrels in the historic underground limestone quarries of Saint-Émilion. Additionally, Château La Clotte is in the process of converting to organic farming.

Style and taste profile

Château La Clotte 2025 displays a deep, bright purple color and a strikingly pure aromatic profile of ripe red fruits. The nose combines concentration with refinement and shows great precision without becoming heavy.

On the palate, the wine presents itself as rich and enveloping, supported by silky tannins and striking energy. What makes this 2025 special is the contrast between ripeness and tension. The texture is generous, yet the chalky freshness keeps everything in balance. The finish lingers, refined and slightly saline, lending extra depth and terroir expression.

A hidden name within Saint-Émilion

At just four hectares, Château La Clotte is one of the smallest estates in Saint-Émilion. Under the care of the Vauthier family, work here is carried out with the same precision and terroir focus that characterize Château Ausone. For lovers of refined, terroir-driven Saint-Émilion with a slightly more understated luxury, La Clotte is a name that deserves increasing attention.