Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
This is tight and fine-tannined with a medium body, lightly rounded tannins and a fresh and bright finish. Structured and long. Polished. Barrel Sample: 92-93
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Decanter
Nice floral fragrance on the nose, smooth and supple, the tannins have a soft bounce to them here matched with purity of juicy, lively red berry flavors and a delicious salinity on the palate. I like the combination, feels well worked with the detail on show. It's lightly framed in terms of texture but has depth of flavor. I love the transparency where you get crunch, crispness and saltiness. A pristine quality to this.
Barrel Sample: 92 -
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Exhibiting notions of cherries, blackberries and licorice, the 2021 Clos de l'Oratoire is medium to full-bodied, broad and enveloping, with a textural attack, bright acids and a fleshy core of fruit, framed by fine tannins that gently assert themselves on the finish. It's one of the more gourmand, generous wines in the von Neipperg range.
Barrel Sample: 90-92 -
Jeb Dunnuck
A blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc raised in 30% new barrels, the 2021 Clos De L'Oratoire is outstanding, with an incredibly floral character in its red fruits, chalky minerality, rose petal, and spicy aromas and flavors. It's medium-bodied, balanced, has nicely integrated acidity, and a great finish. It's not massive by any means, but the balance is spot on, and it's as charming and delicious as they come.
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Wine Spectator
Offers nearly plump blackberry and black cherry compote flavors, with a note of melted licorice. A strong effort for the vintage, this version shows sweet toast that coats the finish, and there's minimal grain. Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Drink now through 2030.
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.