Chateau La Clotte 2021

Suckling: "Medium to full body with a creamy, supple tannin structure. Just-ripe plum fruit and dark berries with a touch of chocolate. Plush, yet so fresh. 85% merlot and 15% cabernet franc."

Decanter: "Fragrant black berries on the nose, some bramble aromas and delicate rose florality. The palate is sharp: you get a real hit of tangy red cherry and raspberry juice. Acidity is to the fore, mouthwatering but with a chalky, mineral edge that softens the attack coming from the limestone terroir. This is lightly-framed and understated in its confidence. The fruit in focus with clarity and precision. Clear with a crisp bite then licks of salinity on the finish. A beautiful effort with plenty of freshness and one to seek out from the same team as Château Ausone."

Wine Advocate: "Aromas of sweet berries, cherries and rose petals, framed by nicely integrated new oak, preface the 2021 La Clotte, a medium to full-bodied, supple and charming wine that's beautifully refined and intensely flavored, concluding with a long, saline finish. It's a blend of 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc from the Vauthier family of Château Ausone."

Weinwisser: "85 % Merlot, 15 % Cabernet Franc. Intensives blaubeeriges Bouquet, Hyazinthen und Schattenmorellensaft. Am dichten Gaumen mit cremiger Textur, stützender Rasse, reifem Tanningerüst und durchtrainiertem Körper. Im gebündelten Finale reife Heidelbeere, Lakritze und fein körnige Adstringenz."

Wine Cellar Insider: "Flowers, black raspberries, cocoa and plum notes open the perfume. Silky, soft and fresh, with an earthy, dark cherry and chocolate core of energetic fruits on the mid-palate and in the vibrant finish. The wine was produced from 85% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc. 12.5% ABV. Drink from 2025-2039."

Galloni: "The 2021 La Clotte is an attractive, soft wine. Bright red/purplish fruit, gentle spice, a touch of new oak and mocha come together nicely. The 2021 is a pretty, mid-weight La Clotte that will drink well with minimal cellaring. Franc aromatics, such a signature of this wine, aren't quite apparent. La Clotte does its malo in oak, and there is a bit of cooperage that needs to integrate."

Neal Martin: "The 2021 La Clotte was picked October 2 and 6 for the Merlot and Cabernet Franc, respectively, and matured entirely in new oak. It has a well-defined nose of black cherries and light blueberry fruit, floral as usual, though not as decadent as previous vintages (as expected). The palate is medium-bodied with pliant tannins and good density, though maybe just missing a little amplitude and complexity on the finish at the moment. Fresh, yet you feel it is holding something back. Very correct."

Falstaff: "Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, tiefer Kern, violette Reflexe, dezente Randaufhellung. Frische schwarze Herzkirschen, etwas Cassis und Brombeeren, tabakige Nuancen. Saftig, rotbeerig, lebendig strukturiert, feine Tannine, mineralisch, salzig im Rückgeschmack, ein frischer Speisenbegleiter."