Clos des Jacobins

The vineyard takes its name from the Benedictine monks historically called Jacobins, and its origins date to the 1700s. The estate was acquired in 1964 by the Cordier négociant family, who maintained it through the latter half of the twentieth century. In 2001, Gerald Frydman purchased the property, bringing in the celebrated winemaker Hubert de Bouard of Château Angélus as a consultant. The Decoster family acquired Clos des Jacobins in 2004 and has since driven a sustained quality renaissance. The estate had ranked among Saint-Émilion's greatest wines during the 1940s and 1950s, and under current ownership it has firmly reclaimed that standing.

• Vineyard origins in the 1700s, named for Benedictine (Jacobin) monks
• Cordier négociant family owned the estate from 1964
• Gerald Frydman acquired it in 2001; Decoster family took over in 2004
• Hubert de Bouard engaged as consultant from 2001 onward

Clos des Jacobins covers 8.5 hectares within the Saint-Émilion Grand Cru appellation. The soils are a combination of limestone, clay, and calcareous scree, classic building blocks for the structured, mineral-edged reds that Saint-Émilion's plateau and slopes are known for. The vineyard benefits from a southern exposure, which maximizes sun hours and promotes even, thorough ripening across the three planted varieties. The temperate maritime climate of Bordeaux governs the growing season, with the limestone subsoil playing a key role in water regulation during drier years.

• 8.5 hectares under vine in Saint-Émilion Grand Cru
• Soils: limestone, clay, and calcareous scree
• Southern aspect for optimal ripening
• Temperate maritime Bordeaux climate

The estate is planted to Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Cabernet Sauvignon, the classic Right Bank triad. Merlot dominates, lending the wine its plush texture and black fruit character, while Cabernet Franc contributes aromatic complexity and structural backbone. The resulting wine is medium to full-bodied, built around ripe black fruit, spice, and a minerality that reflects the limestone-heavy soils. Tannins are structured but refined, giving the wine both immediate appeal and genuine aging potential. Vintages from 2018, 2019, and 2020 are considered among the finest the estate has produced.

• Merlot-dominant blend with Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon
• Medium to full-bodied with black fruit, spice, and minerality
• Structured tannins suited to medium to long-term cellaring
• 2018, 2019, and 2020 regarded as benchmark modern vintages

Clos des Jacobins has held Grand Cru Classé status since the inception of the Saint-Émilion classification in 1955. The estate was recognized among the appellation's top performers during the 1940s and 1950s, a reputation that dipped during subsequent decades before being systematically rebuilt after 2001. The 2006 victory at the Saint-Émilion Grands Crus Classés Challenge in Hong Kong marked a public milestone in that recovery, signaling to international markets that the estate had returned to serious form. The combination of Hubert de Bouard's consulting input and the Decoster family's investment has positioned Clos des Jacobins as one of the more compelling quality stories in the appellation.

• Grand Cru Classé since the first Saint-Émilion classification in 1955
• Historically ranked among Saint-Émilion's greatest in the 1940s and 1950s
• Won Saint-Émilion Grands Crus Classés Challenge, Hong Kong, 2006
• Quality revival driven by Decoster ownership and de Bouard consultation