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

"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."

92 Pts - The Wine Advocate

The 13 hectares vineyard of Clos de l’Oratoire is planted to 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc. It was at one time part of the massive Peyreau estate. In 1972, the vineyards of Clos de l’Oratoire and Peyreau were purchased by Joseph-Hubert, Graf von Neipperg, the father of the current owner, Stephan von Neipperg.

Stephan von Neipperg who began working with Clos de l’Oratoire in 1991 also owns several other Right Bank vineyards including Chateau Canon La Gaffeliere and La Mondotte as well as Chateau Peyreau in Saint Emilion and Chateau d'Aiguilhe in Cotes de Castillon.

At Clos de l’Oratoire, just like all the Neipperg Bordeaux estates, they practice sustainable viticulture and take a biodynamic approach to vineyard management. They never use herbicides, pesticides, nor insecticides.

On the hillsides, you find clay, limestone, and Fronsac molasse. On the bottom of the slopes, the soils are clay with sand. Clos de l’Oratoire is located on the northeast slope of Saint Emilion giving it a slightly cooler terroir, which is perfect for the Merlot-dominated vineyard.

The wine of Clos de l’Oratoire is whole berry fermented in temperature-controlled, oak tanks for a 26 days cuvaison period. Malolactic fermentation takes place in oak barrels with aging on its fine lees. The wine is aged in 80% new, French, oak barrels for between 14 and 18 months, depending on the vintage. Only 2,000 cases of Clos de l’Oratoire wine are produced per year.