Clos des Jacobins

The vineyard of Clos des Jacobins lies right at the gates of Saint-Émilion, a single plot surrounding cellars at the foot of the town's slope, on land that once belonged to the Church. The estate was formerly known as Château Clos des Jacobins; its name was shortened in 1997. Hubert de Boüard, of Château Angélus, was engaged as overall manager; the final blend for the 2000 vintage was reduced to a third of the total volume, and the vineyard was drained, the pruning system was altered to help reduce yields, a greater percentage of new oak was introduced and the harvesting method was refined. Today Clos des Jacobins is one of the four wine estates brought together by Magali and Thibaut Decoster under their own name, alongside Château la Commanderie, Château de Candale and Château Roc de Candale.

• Single plot surrounding the cellars, on land once belonging to the Church
• 1997: name shortened from Château Clos des Jacobins
• Hubert de Boüard engaged as overall manager; the 2000 final blend cut to a third of the total volume
• Owners: Magali and Thibaut Decoster, whose four wine estates include Clos des Jacobins

Magali and Thibaut Decoster bring together the family's four wine estates, a restaurant and hospitality under the Magali & Thibaut Decoster brand. Mike Germon oversees both the vineyard and winery work behind the group's Grands Crus and Grands Crus Classés. In the winery, cellar master Yohann Mourceins-Zecchi and assistant cellar master Manon Bouzignac oversee each stage of winemaking. Hubert de Bouard de Laforest is the consulting oenologist for Clos des Jacobins.

• Owners: Magali and Thibaut Decoster
• Mike Germon: oversees vineyard and winery work
• Yohann Mourceins-Zecchi: Cellar Master; Manon Bouzignac: Assistant Cellar Master
• Consulting oenologist: Hubert de Bouard de Laforest

The vineyard covers 8.5 hectares on the pied de côte near Château Grand Mayne, with a south-facing exposure. Soils are limestone rock with clay and limestone scree. It is planted to 80% Merlot, 18% Cabernet Franc and 2% Cabernet Sauvignon at a density of 6,500 to 8,500 vines per hectare, with an average vine age of 30 years. The vines are Guyot-pruned with de-budding.

• 8.5 hectares, pied de côte, south-facing
• Soils: limestone rock, clay and limestone scree
• 80% Merlot, 18% Cabernet Franc, 2% Cabernet Sauvignon
• 6,500 to 8,500 vines per hectare; average vine age 30 years
• Guyot pruning with de-budding

Since 2010 the Magali & Thibaut Decoster vineyards have been part of the pilot group of wineries that deployed the Bordeaux Wine Environmental Management System. Clos des Jacobins has held High Environmental Value Level 3 from 2021 and Organic Farming from 2024. As of 2021, all of the vineyards operated by Magali & Thibaut Decoster committed to organic (AB) certification, which was obtained in 2024 following a three-year regulatory process; the 2023 vintage was made in conversion to organic farming. Across the group, part of the white wine parcels has been grafted with the resistant variety Souvignier Gris, mating disruption is used to limit the reproduction of certain pests, and all wines are bottled in bottles 30 g lighter than the average, produced from 85% recycled glass.

• Bordeaux Wine Environmental Management System pilot group since 2010
• High Environmental Value Level 3 from 2021
• Organic (AB) certification obtained in 2024 after a three-year process
• Lightweight bottles from 85% recycled glass across the group

Grapes are harvested by hand in small crates, with several sortings, and the wine is aged for 18 months with 75% new oak. The 2020 vintage was harvested from September 21 to 28 at an average yield of 37 hl/ha; it was made in 60-hectolitre wooden vats with pigeage and délestage, fermentation lasted 30 days, malolactic fermentation took place in new wood barrels, and the wine was aged 15 months with 75% new oak and bottled on April 25 and 26, 2022, for 31,188 bottles. The 2023 vintage was harvested from September 8 to 23 at 40 hl/ha and made in wooden (60 hl) and concrete vats; fermentation lasted 25 days, and the wine was aged 14 months with 60% new oak and bottled in May 2025, for 36,000 bottles.

• Hand harvest in small crates, several sortings
• Ageing: 18 months, 75% new oak
• 2020: harvest September 21 to 28; 15 months, 75% new oak; 31,188 bottles
• 2023: harvest September 8 to 23; 14 months, 60% new oak; 36,000 bottles

Clos des Jacobins is the estate's Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Classé wine, and the estate shop offers it in the 2009, 2011, 2016, 2018, 2019 and 2020 vintages. Réserve des Jacobins, a Saint-Émilion Grand Cru, comes from 1.62 hectares with the same 80% Merlot, 18% Cabernet Franc and 2% Cabernet Sauvignon composition and is aged for 12 months. The Decoster portfolio also includes Château la Commanderie, a Grand Cru Classé since 2012; Château de Candale and Château Roc de Candale, both Saint-Émilion Grand Cru; and the Le Goût de la Vie range in red, white and rosé. Clos des Jacobins is also home to the accommodations of the Magali & Thibaut Decoster Vineyards.

• Clos des Jacobins: Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Classé
• Réserve des Jacobins: Saint-Émilion Grand Cru, 1.62 hectares, 12 months' ageing
• Sister estates: Château la Commanderie, Château de Candale, Château Roc de Candale
• Le Goût de la Vie range: red, white and rosé

Clos des Jacobins is listed among the Grands Crus Classés in the 2022 Saint-Émilion classification. Couvent des Jacobins, a separate estate, also appears on that list. Its owners describe Clos des Jacobins as a Grand Cru Classé since its inception.

• Grand Cru Classé in the 2022 Saint-Émilion classification
• Distinct from Couvent des Jacobins, also a Grand Cru Classé

Magali and Thibaut Decoster put their approach in their own words: 'We respect our terroirs and their preservation through certified organic farming practices. We assume a modern and joyful vision of our wines and the experiences offered on our estates.' Writing on Winedoctor, Chris Kissack credits the Decoster family with real improvement at the estate and finds that the style 'leans towards the modern, but does not tend to go over the edge into over-extraction or overt sur-maturité,' so that the wines are 'rich in fruit character but also perfumed and fresh.'

Primary sources (the owners' site, Magali & Thibaut Decoster):https://en.mtdecoster.com/, https://en.mtdecoster.com/a-propos/, https://en.mtdecoster.com/nos-proprietes/, https://en.mtdecoster.com/nos-vins/, https://en.mtdecoster.com/nos-equipes/, https://en.mtdecoster.com/nos-engagements/, https://en.mtdecoster.com/produit/clos-des-jacobins/, and the estate's sheets (PDF): https://mtdecoster.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/General-Characteristics-Clos-des-Jacobins.pdf, https://mtdecoster.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Technical-Sheet-Clos-des-Jacobins-2023.pdf, https://mtdecoster.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Technical-Sheet-Clos-des-Jacobins-2020-1.pdf, https://mtdecoster.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/General-Characteristics-Reserve-des-Jacobins.pdf. Secondary sources: Decanter (Decanter Staff, last updated 30 May 2019): https://www.decanter.com/wine/producer-profiles/clos-des-jacobins-66591/; Decanter (James Lawther MW, Shifting gear: St-Emilion): https://www.decanter.com/features/shifting-gear-saint-emilion-249057/; Conseil des Vins de Saint-Émilion: https://vins-saint-emilion.com/en/castle/clos-des-jacobins-2/ and https://vins-saint-emilion.com/en/welcome-in-the-vineyard/the-2022-classification/; Winedoctor (Chris Kissack): https://www.thewinedoctor.com/bordeaux/closdesjacobins_5.shtml. Last verified 2026-10-20. Where the producer's site and a secondary source disagree, the producer's site governs.