Winemaker Notes
Clos de l’Oratoire, located on Saint-Emilion's northeast slope, has 13 hectares of vines. The terroir of Fronsac molasse, consisting of a layer of sandy soil and a clay subsoil, is ideally suited to Merlot (80% of the vines).
Meticulous work is done all year long to maintain quality in the vineyard.
Fermentation takes place exclusively in temperature-controlled oak vats. Oak, a noble material in perfect synergy with fine wine, enhances its colour and flavour, and enables it to reach its full potential.
Every vat is handled according to its specific profile. Fermentation temperatures are kept relatively low and pigeage (punching down the cap) is done very slowly.
Blend: 75% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc
Professional Ratings
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Vinous
The 2023 Clos de l'Oratoire is one of the most changed wines in the Neipperg portfolio. An increase in Cabernet Franc is immediately evident in the wine's explosive bouquet and overall energy. Rose petal, sage, mint, dried flowers and orange peel race across the palate. Clos de l'Oratoire is absolutely beguiling in 2023. I can't wait to taste it from bottle. –Antonio Galloni
Barrel Sample: 92-95 -
James Suckling
Blueberries and crushed stones alongside lead pencil and milk chocolate. Some clove and white-pepper highlights as well. Medium-bodied with cocoa and berry flavors, velvety medium tannins and a spicy finish. Bright and plush but not heavy. A blend of 75% merlot and 25% cabernet franc.
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Jeb Dunnuck
A blend of 75% Merlot and 25% Cabernet Franc raised in 30% new French oak, the 2023 Clos De L'Oratoire offers up red and black fruits, spice, dried flowers, and hints of truffly earth. It's medium-bodied, has a pure, balanced mouthfeel, ripe and polished tannins, and outstanding length.
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Wine Spectator
This is pure and refined from the start, with pretty damson plum and morello cherry notes stitched together with a fine-grained structure. Light flashes of apple wood, incense and iris fill up the remaining space, with everything focused and fresh through the finish. Merlot and Cabernet Franc.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
A blend of 75% Merlot and 25% Cabernet Franc, the 2023 Clos de l'Oratoire reveals aromas of dark berries, spices, fresh licorice and creamy, toasty new oak. Medium- to full-bodied, it is rich and concentrated, firm and structured, with good depth at the core, concluding with a long, lead-pencil-inflected finish.
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.