Château La Clotte
sha-TOE la CLOT
A terraced Right Bank gem with six centuries of history, now renaissance under Vauthier family stewardship in Saint-Émilion.
Château La Clotte is a 4-hectare Saint-Émilion Grand Cru estate producing rich, mineral-driven Merlot-based reds from clay-limestone hillside terraces. The estate traces its viticultural roots to the late 14th century and passed through monastic and private ownership before the Vauthier family acquired it in 2014. Pauline Vauthier now directs the property, guiding it toward organic certification.
- 4 hectares of vines on terraced hillsides reaching up to 75 meters elevation
- Grand Cru Classé until the estate declined the 2022 classification
- Blend of approximately 80-85% Merlot, 10-15% Cabernet Franc, and 5-10% Cabernet Sauvignon
- Clay-limestone soils with south/southwest-facing aspect
- Working vineyard since the late 14th century, formerly a Cordelier monks monastery
- Acquired by the Vauthier family in 2014; Pauline Vauthier serves as director
- Currently undergoing organic certification
History and Ownership
Château La Clotte stands among Saint-Émilion's oldest continuously farmed vineyard sites, with a viticultural history stretching back to the late 14th century. Before the French Revolution, the property served as a monastery for Cordelier monks, lending it a spiritual dimension shared by many of the region's most storied estates. The Grailly family purchased the property in 1886, and it subsequently passed to the Chailleau-Moulierac family in 1913. The most significant recent chapter began in 2014, when the Vauthier family, already renowned as owners of Château Ausone, acquired La Clotte. Pauline Vauthier now leads the estate, bringing a focused, quality-driven approach that has reinvigorated the property.
- Viticultural use documented from the late 14th century
- Served as a Cordelier monks monastery prior to the French Revolution
- Grailly family ownership from 1886; Chailleau-Moulierac family from 1913
- Vauthier family acquisition in 2014 marks the current era of modernization
Terroir and Vineyard
The vineyard occupies 4 hectares of terraced hillside within the Saint-Émilion appellation, with elevations reaching up to 75 meters. The aspect is south and southwest-facing, maximizing sun exposure and heat accumulation during the growing season. Clay-limestone soils dominate the site, a classic combination for the Right Bank that provides excellent water retention and imparts the mineral character evident in the finished wines. The Atlantic Ocean moderates the temperate maritime climate, reducing temperature extremes and supporting consistent ripening across vintages.
- Clay-limestone soils typical of Saint-Émilion's hillside zones
- South/southwest-facing terraced aspect maximizes solar exposure
- Elevation up to 75 meters contributes to drainage and diurnal temperature variation
- Atlantic-influenced maritime climate moderates growing season temperatures
Viticulture and Winemaking
The estate's plantings reflect the classic Right Bank hierarchy, with Merlot accounting for 80 to 85 percent of the vineyard, supported by 10 to 15 percent Cabernet Franc and 5 to 10 percent Cabernet Sauvignon. This composition delivers the opulent, fruit-forward style associated with top Saint-Émilion producers, with Cabernet Franc contributing structure and aromatic complexity. The property is currently pursuing organic certification, aligning with the broader movement among quality-conscious Bordeaux estates toward lower-intervention farming and greater vineyard expression.
- Merlot-dominant blend at 80-85%, with Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon completing the assemblage
- Organic certification currently in progress under Vauthier family direction
- Winemaking philosophy emphasizes terroir expression and mineral character
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Get the DeckClassification and Reputation
Château La Clotte was a Grand Cru Classé in the 2012 Saint-Émilion classification but declined to take part in the 2022 revision, so it no longer carries a classification ranking and is bottled as Saint-Émilion Grand Cru. The Vauthier family's involvement brings considerable prestige, given their track record at Château Ausone, long ranked Premier Grand Cru Classé A before it too withdrew from the classification in 2022. Under Pauline Vauthier's direction, La Clotte is widely regarded as an estate in ascent, benefiting from renewed investment and viticultural rigor. The alternate name La Clotte de Grailly references the family that held the property during the late 19th century.
Rich and opulent with a mineral backbone derived from clay-limestone soils. Merlot dominance delivers plush dark fruit, plum, and black cherry, while Cabernet Franc adds violet, graphite, and earthy complexity. Tannins are elegant and well-integrated, with a long, mineral-inflected finish typical of well-sited Saint-Émilion hillside terroir.
- Château La Clotte Saint-Émilion Grand Cru$60-100The estate wine showcases clay-limestone terroir and Merlot-led richness under Vauthier family stewardship.Find →
- Château La Clotte was a Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Classé until it declined the 2022 classification
- The vineyard covers 4 hectares on clay-limestone terraced hillside with south/southwest aspect reaching 75 meters elevation
- Blend is Merlot-dominant at 80-85%, with Cabernet Franc (10-15%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (5-10%)
- The Vauthier family, owners of Château Ausone, acquired La Clotte in 2014; Pauline Vauthier directs the estate
- Historical use dates to the late 14th century, including a period as a Cordelier monks monastery before the French Revolution