Winemaker Notes
Clos de l’Oratoire is round, smooth, and very seductive. It has a beautiful deep crimson color and powerful fruity aromas. Merlot provides roundness and opulence, whereas Cabernet Franc contributes power, aromatic complexity, and a long aftertaste. Although Clos de l’Oratoire can be enjoyed seven years after the vintage, it is, above all, a wine with fine ageing potential.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Spectator
A lively mix of loganberry and plum fruit forms the core, with enticing anise, black tea and spice accents filling in throughout. Exhibits a fleshy feel but maintains a racy edge for contrast. Best from 2022 through 2032.
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James Suckling
Fresh flowers and herbs with crushed berries and broken stones. Medium body, fine tannins and a fresh finish. A little lean. But it’s a pleasing wine. Drink after 2021.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, the 2017 Clos de l'Oratoire offers up warm plums, fresh blackberries and blueberries with hints of cigar box, pencil lead and charcuterie. Medium-bodied, the palate has great density with loads of earthy accents and a firm, fine-grained framed, finishing with a compelling herbal lift.
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Jeb Dunnuck
Based on 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc brought up in 50% new French oak, the 2017 Clos De L'Oratoire offers beautiful notes of blackcurrants, chocolate, ground herbs, iron, and crushed rocks. It's rich, medium to full-bodied, has wonderful purity of fruit, fine tannins, and a great finish. This is a beautiful 2017 to enjoy over the coming 15 years or more
One of the world’s most classic and popular styles of red wine, Bordeaux-inspired blends have spread from their homeland in France to nearly every corner of the New World. Typically based on either Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot and supported by Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, the best of these are densely hued, fragrant, full of fruit and boast a structure that begs for cellar time. Somm Secret—Blends from Bordeaux are generally earthier compared to those from the New World, which tend to be fruit-dominant.
Marked by its historic fortified village—perhaps the prettiest in all of Bordeaux, the St-Émilion appellation, along with its neighboring village of Pomerol, are leaders in quality on the Right Bank of Bordeaux. These Merlot-dominant red wines (complemented by various amounts of Cabernet Franc and/or Cabernet Sauvignon) remain some of the most admired and collected wines of the world.
St-Émilion has the longest history in wine production in Bordeaux—longer than the Left Bank—dating back to an 8th century monk named Saint Émilion who became a hermit in one of the many limestone caves scattered throughout the area.
Today St-Émilion is made up of hundreds of independent farmers dedicated to the same thing: growing Merlot and Cabernet Franc (and tiny amounts of Cabernet Sauvignon). While always roughly the same blend, the wines of St-Émilion vary considerably depending on the soil upon which they are grown—and the soils do vary considerably throughout the region.
The chateaux with the highest classification (Premier Grand Cru Classés) are on gravel-rich soils or steep, clay-limestone hillsides. There are only four given the highest rank, called Premier Grand Cru Classés A (Chateau Cheval Blanc, Ausone, Angélus, Pavie) and 14 are Premier Grand Cru Classés B. Much of the rest of the vineyards in the appellation are on flatter land where the soils are a mix of gravel, sand and alluvial matter.
Great wines from St-Émilion will be deep in color, and might have characteristics of blackberry liqueur, black raspberry, licorice, chocolate, grilled meat, earth or truffles. They will be bold, layered and lush.