CLOS DU CLOCHER
2022 Pomerol
Helped by old vine Cabernet Franc that dates back to 1957, this is full of wonderfully dark damson fruits, shot thorugh with mint leaf cooling complexity. Velvety tannins, crushed rose petals, supple and enticing. This is a brilliant wine, really pulls away from many in the appellation. The tannins are very much present right at the front of the palate, and then they form an arch, that allows the fruit underneath. Natural yeasts, very little oxygen, low sulphur additions, a wine for the ages. Once again Clos du Clocher shows why it deserves to be at the top table in Pomerol. 60% new barrels, 30% one year old barrels, 10% small vats (glass and concrete). Organic conversion. 2024 will be 100 years in the family, so this is 98th anniversary. Drinking range: 2030 - 2048 Rating: 97 Jane Anson, www.janeanson.com (Apr 2023)
* This is a pre-shipment/primeur offer. All orders are accepted under the TERMS of this offer which differ from the terms of the rest of the site.
The 2022 Clos du Clocher was picked on 7 September and matured in 55% new oak. This has a fragrant, pure bouquet with blueberry, cassis and violet scents. There's lovely definition here, and the oak is neatly integrated. The palate is medium-bodied with a velvety smooth entry. Concentrated but well-balanced, the gentle grip on the finish lingers in the mouth. This is a classy Pomerol from "JB" and his team. Drinking range: 2030 - 2065 Rating: 93-95 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (Apr 2023)
A stunning wine in 2022 showcasing star power in Pomerol and delivering one of the appellation’s clear successes. Beautifully fragrant on the nose, fresh and ripe black fruits, purple flowers, milk chocolate, salty stones and liquorice. Smooth, sumptuous and seductive in terms of texture - tannins are beautifully chalky and so well integrated - almost effortlessly supporting the concentrated fruit and giving the confident structure. Focussed and detailed but not tight or tense, really quite a special effort. Energy and mouthwatering acidity is in the background but it’s the texture that’s most captivating, velvety, chalky, ripe, fleshy and refined all at once. It manages to be understated in a year where it was easy to be anything but. I love it. 3.6pH. A yield of 39hl/ha. Harvest started on 7 September. Soft extraction with natural yeasts for fermentation. Ageing 55-60% oak barrels, 30% one wine barrels, and 7% in small concrete tanks and wine globes. Second year of organic conversion. Next year, 2024, Clos du Clocher will celebrate its 100 year anniversary having been founded by Jean-Baptiste Audy in 1924. Drinking range: 2028 - 2050 Rating: 97 Georgie Hindle - Decanter (May 2023)
As is often the case, the aromatic range is already expressively sensual with hints of violets and roasted pimento. But it is the palate that is the most remarkable for its intensity and coherent development in the mouth. The tannins are powerful and the texture dense, yet this remains free of anything angular or weighty. This is a wine that we look forward to observing its evolution in time. Rating: 94-97 La Revue du Vin de France (May 2023)
Builds on the palate with dark berry and chocolate aromas and flavors. Medium to full body. Integrated tannins and a flavorful finish. Solid. Juicy. Rating: 94-95 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (May 2023)
Clos du Clocher
A property in three plots on the plateau of Pomerol, about 4.6 hectares, a mixture of clay, gravel and sandy soils, planted with 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc. The wine is aged in about 60% new wood and production is around 2000 cases per annum. A new chai was created in 2010, and quality has leapt forward here.
Please make sure that you have read the terms of this offer which are different from those on the main website. If you are unclear as to what is involved in primeur purchases please do contact our private client team via email or on 020 7018 0187.
Ordering
Prices are all in bond by the case size stated.
Pre-Orders are a firm commitment to buy wines on release, as long as the release price is within the upper and lower price bands set by you on the pre-order form. Pre-orders will be fulfilled subject to availability but providing this firm commitment to buy effectively gives you priority and is a good idea for the most desirable wines.
Wines listed on the website can be ordered in the usual way via the website wishlist order form. You can also send orders directly to our private client team via email. Please note that, for the most sought-after wines, priority will be given to those who ordered the same wines last year and to those that have pre-ordered.
Confirmation
All orders will be confirmed by email and are binding unless written cancellation is received within seven days of email confirmation. Pre-orders are not binding if the release price is above your upper price band.
Invoices are all raised at the in bond price (excluding any duty and VAT) which will become payable at the prevailing rates when the wines arrive in the UK, should you wish to take duty paid delivery.
Payment is required on sight of invoice, by cash, cheque, debit card or bank transfer. We regret we cannot accept credit cards for en primeur orders. We reserve the right to apply a dunning charge of 2% per month on invoices unpaid after 30 days.
Delivery
- Shipment to our bond (at LCB Creek Road) and insurance are included in the in bond price.
- Delivery is free to Lea and Sandeman / Elephant storage accounts, both duty paid and in bond.
- Other deliveries (In Bond and Duty Paid) are also free subject to a minimum order from the offer of £500. Orders below this total will be charged an administration and handling fee of £16.50+ VAT when invoices are issued. We will group deliveries and this is a charge for your entire purchases, not a per-case charge.
- Delivery of 2024 Bordeaux bought en primeur is expected during 2026. Delivery dates may vary as wines are shipped from Bordeaux at different times.
Practical notes - how it works
We start a sale in each customer's name and add all their primeur orders to one sale which is invoiced at the end of the campaign (or when the customer wishes). Immediate payment of invoices is then required by cash, cheque, debit card or bank transfer. We and our customers find that having a single invoice for the vintage is the simpler option but please note that confirmed orders are still binding even if the final invoice has not yet been issued.
Please specify on your wishlist order form where you would like the wines shipped on arrival in the UK. If this is to a third-party bonded warehouse, please specify the relevant account details. If the wines are required duty-paid we will issue a second invoice for duty and VAT at the prevailing rate when the wines are available for delivery.
Half-bottles, Magnums and larger bottles.
One of the additional advantages of buying en primeur is being able to order the wine in the format you want. While most of our listings are for 75cl bottles, we can source wines in any format that is offered by the Château. Please note that format requests cannot be changed once wines have been invoiced. Additional charges for special formats do apply and are as follows:-
- +£18.00 per case of 12 half-bottles
- +£30.00 per case of 24 half-bottles
- +£7.50 per case of 3 Magnums (2 bottles equivalent, 1.5 litres each)
- +£11.00 per case of 6 Magnums
- +£45.00 per individually boxed Double Magnum (4 bottles equivalent, 3 litres)
- +£60.00 per individually boxed Imperial (8 bottles equivalent, 6 litres) for Salmanazars, Balthazars, Nebuchadnezzars and Melchiors please enquire for availability and price.
Storage Options:
Wines bought en primeur won't arrive in the UK until 2026. If you do not wish to take home delivery at that point, you may wish to consider where you would like the wines shipped. Lea & Sandeman offers duty paid and in bond storage through a dedicated storage company called Elephant Storage. For more details on the terms and fees associated with storage please go to our Storage Homepage or contact our private client team for more information.