Catalog
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One of the appellation's ripest and most hedonistic crus until 2000, Clinet has since gained in distinction and refinement through successive touches (15% Cabernet in the vines, state-of-the-art technical equipment...). All this without losing the aromatic intensity and depth of flesh that are its hallmarks. Today, Clinet is unquestionably one of Pomerol's finest wines.
The 2020 vintage in the press:
J-M Quarin (December 2024): 95/100 “Dark, intense, slightly evolved color. Very aromatic nose, with ripe fruit. Creamy touch. Caressing on the attack, savory in the middle, the wine develops on a creamy touch and a melting body, with taste and a powerful finish. Woody base to mellow with time. Wait for it".
More- To keep or to drink:
- Wait 3 to 5 years
- Apogée:
- 2025-2038
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One of the appellation's ripest and most hedonistic crus until 2000, Clinet has since gained in distinction and refinement through successive touches (15% Cabernet in the vines, state-of-the-art technical equipment...). All this without losing the aromatic intensity and depth of flesh that are its hallmarks. Today, Clinet is unquestionably one of Pomerol's finest wines.
The 2014 vintage in the press:
J-M Quarin (December 2024): 95/100 “Dark, intense, slightly evolved color. Very aromatic nose, with fresh, creamy fruit. Immediately juicy on entry, the wine develops tasty, very fruity, admittedly less velvety than the 2015, but with more lively stimulation. Long, deep finish. Very good. A nice surprise.”
Vinous (N. Martin - February 2024): 90/100 “The 2014 Clinet lacks a bit of vigor on the nose, tarry black fruit with pencil shavings and tobacco, a little Left Bank in style indicatives of some ripe Cabernet Franc. The palate is medium-bodied with saturated tannins, fleshy with fine acidity, though it just misses amplitude and personality on the finish where is just seems to coast.”
More- To keep or to drink:
- Ready to drink
- Apogée:
- 2020-2032
- Potential alcohol:
- 13.5%
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Delicately perfumed (the aromatic bouquet is always very floral, with violets and peonies in the lead) and elegantly suave whatever the vintage, La Conseillante occupies a special place among the greatest Pomerols, perhaps the most endearing of them. Its finesse and superiorly sensual and refined texture are reminiscent of the great wines of the Côte de Nuits (on the Vosne-Romanée side). However, behind the apparent friendliness of La Conseillante lies a wine of great energy and excellent ageing potential.
The 2022 vintage in the press:
La Revue du Vin de France (Guide 2026): 96/100 "The 2022 vintage embodies all the precision, richness and depth one expects from a great Pomerol. The nose seduces with notes of blue fruit, toast and peat. The palate is full-bodied and classy, with powdery, well-balanced tannins. A wine with great ageing potential."
Vinous (A. Galloni - January 2025): 98/100 "The 2022 La Conseillante is a gorgeous, racy wine. Pliant and super-expressive, La Conseillante is positively stellart. The 2022 is a vertical, statuesque Conseillante. As alluring as the 2022 is at this stage, it also clearly needs cellaring to be at its finest. Time in the glass releases the aromatics, along with brisk acids that keep things in check. Blood orange, lavender, spice, menthol and espresso linger on the sustained finish. Technical Director Marielle Cazaux turned out what is quite possibly the mosy elegant wine in Pomerol. The 2022 was harvested from September 5th for Merlots through to the 20th, when the last Cabernet Franc was brought in. It was aged in 70% new wood, 27% once-filled barrels and 3% amphora."
Bettane + Desseauve (Guide 2026) : 98/100
More- To keep or to drink:
- Wait 3 to 5 years
- Apogée:
- 2030-2045
- Potential alcohol:
- 14%
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Delicately perfumed (the aromatic bouquet is always very floral, with violets and peonies in the lead) and elegantly suave whatever the vintage, La Conseillante occupies a special place among the greatest Pomerols, perhaps the most endearing of them. Its finesse and superiorly sensual and refined texture are reminiscent of the great wines of the Côte de Nuits (on the Vosne-Romanée side). However, behind the apparent friendliness of La Conseillante lies a wine of great energy and excellent ageing potential.
The 2021 vintage in the press:
La Revue du Vin de France (Guide 2025): 96/100 “2021 is at first more earthy, with notes of small forest berries, Armenian paper and rose berry, but it quickly opens up to blue fruit baskets. In a lacy style, it will be ready in four to five years. ”
Vinous (A. Galloni - December 2023): 96/100 “The 2021 Conseillante is bright, fresh and fruity, with lovely red fruit character and fine balance. Crushed berries, rose petal, lavender, chalk, mint,and psice are beautifully delineated. In 2021, La Conseillante is a Pomerol of tension, nerve and delicacy more than volume. Time in the glass brings out bright floral notes that extend the finish. The blend is 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc that spent 18 months in French oak - 70 new, 27% once-filled barrels and 3% amphora. The 2021 is such a classy wine. I can't wait to see how it ages. The 2021 possesses a Burgundian sense of structure, for lack of a better term. Harvest started on September 28 for the Merlots, very late by recent standards, through October 1. The Cabernets were picked on October 6 and 12. The alcohol (13%) and pH (3.6) readings are those from another era.”
Bettane + Desseauve (Guide 2026) : 95/100
More- To keep or to drink:
- Wait 3 to 5 years
- Apogée:
- 2030-2045
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Delicately perfumed (the aromatic bouquet is always very floral, with violets and peonies in the lead) and elegantly suave whatever the vintage, La Conseillante occupies a special place among the greatest Pomerols, perhaps the most endearing of them. Its finesse and superiorly sensual and refined texture are reminiscent of the great wines of the Côte de Nuits (on the Vosne-Romanée side). However, behind the apparent friendliness of La Conseillante lies a wine of great energy and excellent ageing potential.
The 2011 vintage in the press:
Vinous (N. Martin - Septembr 2021): 90/100 "The 2011 La Conseillante has a backward but delineated bouquet with earthy, sandalwood and pencil box aromas, perhaps in need of a little more fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with firm tannins, good body, but it lacks a little tension and complexity. A more muscular Pomerol for sure, though it might improve with bottle age. Solid, but nowhere near the class produced under Marielle Cazaux nowadays."
More- To keep or to drink:
- Ready to drink
- Apogée:
- 2021-2033
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Delicately perfumed (the aromatic bouquet is always very floral, with violets and peonies in the lead) and elegantly suave whatever the vintage, La Conseillante occupies a special place among the greatest Pomerols, perhaps the most endearing of them. Its finesse and superiorly sensual and refined texture are reminiscent of the great wines of the Côte de Nuits (on the Vosne-Romanée side). However, behind the apparent friendliness of La Conseillante lies a wine of great energy and excellent ageing potential.
The 2009 vintage in the press:
Vinous (N. Martin - February 2019): 97/100 "The 2009 La Conseillante has a very classy sophisticated bouquet with beautifully defined black and red fruit mixed with black truffle and pressed rose petals. The oak is just completely subsumed here. The palate is medium-bodied with ripe and saturated tannin, a fine line of acidity, fresh and tensile with a sense of mineralité on the finish."
More- To keep or to drink:
- Ready to drink
- Apogée:
- 2019-2032
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In successive stages, L'Évangile has continued to progress, with its two immediate neighbors Cheval Blanc and Petrus in its sights. With the restructuring of the vineyard begun in 1998, a new vat room in 2004, and the gradual switch to organic farming from 2012 (certification in 2021), a clear qualitative step has been taken since 2009, focusing on distinction and aromatic refinement.
The 2017 vintage in the press:
Vinous (A. Galloni - March 2020): 97/100 “The 2017 L'Évangile, 100% Merlot for this first time, is just as impressive from bottle as it was from barrel. Dark fruit, spice, mocha, leather and licorice infuse the 2017 with notable depth. Time in the glass brings out lovely aromatic top notes that add freshness. A rapturously beautiful wine, L'Évangile is stellar. Frost wiped out half of the potential crop, including all of the Cabernet Franc, wich means the Gran Vin 100% Merlot.”
J-M Quarin (October 2020): 96/100 “Meticulous in its touch from the attack, then finely fat in the mid-palate, melting and fragrant, the wine takes on an extra dimension between the middle and the finish, to finish long, noble and above all unapproachable.”
More- To keep or to drink:
- Ready to drink
- Apogée:
- 2025-2037
- Potential alcohol:
- 14.5%
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In successive stages, L'Évangile has continued to progress, with its two immediate neighbors Cheval Blanc and Petrus in its sights. With the restructuring of the vineyard begun in 1998, a new vat room in 2004, and the gradual switch to organic farming from 2012 (certification in 2021), a clear qualitative step has been taken since 2009, focusing on distinction and aromatic refinement.
The 2015 vintage in the press:
Vinous (N. Martin - February 2025): 93/100 "The 2015 L'Évangile, which was made by previous winemaker Jean-Pierre Vazart, is outflanked by the Hosanna 2015 that preceded it. This lacks a bit of vigor and tension. Light cedar and truffle scents emerge with time. Interestingly, two bottles tasted in New York at Vinous Icons were fresher and Livelier than the one in London. The palate is slightly better with a viscous texture. It' powerful and oaky, with good density and decent freshness toward the toasty finish. It actually finishes on a high note, hence my score, but the aromatics are found wanting."
More- To keep or to drink:
- Ready to drink
- Apogée:
- 2024-2037
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In successive stages, L'Évangile has continued to progress, with its two immediate neighbors Cheval Blanc and Petrus in its sights. With the restructuring of the vineyard begun in 1998, a new vat room in 2004, and the gradual switch to organic farming from 2012 (certification in 2021), a clear qualitative step has been taken since 2009, focusing on distinction and aromatic refinement.
More- To keep or to drink:
- Ready to drink
- Apogée:
- 2022-2035
- Potential alcohol:
- 14%
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In successive stages, L'Évangile has continued to progress, with its two immediate neighbors Cheval Blanc and Petrus in its sights. With the restructuring of the vineyard begun in 1998, a new vat room in 2004, and the gradual switch to organic farming from 2012 (certification in 2021), a clear qualitative step has been taken since 2009, focusing on distinction and aromatic refinement.
The 2012 vintage in the press:
Vinous (N. Martin - February 2022): 90/100 "The 2012 Château L'Évangile has a little more exoticism on the nose compared to the 2012 La Fleur de Gay that preceded it: dark chocolate and camphor scents, coalescing nicely with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins and acidity, sour cherries mixed with white pepper and a gentle grip with hints of leather towards the finish. I feel this has personality and Pomerol DNA, though it flirts with being overly exotic."
More- To keep or to drink:
- Ready to drink
- Apogée:
- 2020-2032
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A talented and demanding winemaker, Mr. Durantou, at the service of a great terroir flush with Pomerol's church (between Lafleur and Clinet), has revealed and propelled L'Église-Clinet among Pomerol's finest crus. L'Église-Clinet is undoubtedly one of the most subtle in terms of aromatic precision, fine grain and satiny texture. Much too soon lost in 2020, Mr. Durantou fortunately has three daughters, united and determined to continue their father's work with brio.
The 2022 vintage in the press:
La Revue du Vin de France (Guide 2026): 98/100 "Église-Clinet has produced a major vintage. Deep nose of black fruits and zan, dense and flavourful on the palate, carried by remarkably precise tannins and an endless finish."
Vinous (N. Martin - January 2025): 99/100 "Nöemie Durantou remarked that this vintage is the best she had ever know with respect to the Merlot, and given that the 2022 L'Eglise-Clinet contains 90% Merlot, that pre-empted a fabulous Pomerol. Durantou also mentionned that her wines were a little more"shy" compared to the previous day, though the bouquet only needed four of five minutes' coaxing before it unfolded with wonderfully delineated, focused scents of black cherries, peony, blood orange and crushed stone. Exquisitely balanced, the palate has a cashmere texture thanks to the pliant tannins, gaining density all the time. The finish is powerful and very sustained, disguising the 14.6% alcohol extremely well thanks to its countervailing acidic spine, though you feel a dab on the aftertaste. The 2022 is a L'Eglise-Clinet built for the long-term and continues the estate's stunning run of form."
J-M Quarin (February 2025): 99/100 "Deep, dark colour. Intense, fruity, raspberry-scented nose with a hint of truffle. A complex wine. Superb airy entry on the palate. Then the wine begins to melt, fat, with a black fruit flavour.Remarkably well-balanced, it evolves slowly, meticulously and deeply towards a long, complex, sappy finish with hints of black fruit and spice. All in all, a wine of great delicacy. It's superb and hard to spit out."
Bettane + Desseauve (Guide 2026) : 98/100
More- To keep or to drink:
- Wait 5 to 10 years
- Apogée:
- 2024-2035
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A talented and demanding winemaker, Mr. Durantou, at the service of a great terroir flush with Pomerol's church (between Lafleur and Clinet), has revealed and propelled L'Église-Clinet among Pomerol's finest crus. L'Église-Clinet is undoubtedly one of the most subtle in terms of aromatic precision, fine grain and satiny texture. Much too soon lost in 2020, Mr. Durantou fortunately has three daughters, united and determined to continue their father's work with brio.
The 2021 vintage in the press:
La Revue du Vin de France (Guide 2025): 96/100 “This great wine captivates with its dimension, sharpness and precision. The generosity of style envelops citrus tension, all encircled by powdery tannins of great precision. It will keep for at least two decades. Here, density does not rhyme with muscle, but with tasty extract."
Vinous (A. Galloni - December 2023): 96/100 “The 2021 l'Eglise-Clinet is stellar. Dark, dense and also a touch somber, the 2021 is laced with generous black fruit, gravel, spice, new leather, licorice and incense. Readers will have to give this time to come together. I especially admire its substance, textural resonance and overall balance. Readers lucky enough to own the 2021 can look forward to years of exceptional drinking once the tannins soften a bit.”
Bettane + Desseauve (Guide 2026) : 96/100
More- To keep or to drink:
- Wait 3 to 5 years
- Apogée:
- 2024-2035
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Trotanoy shines through the richness and elegance of its bouquet in small and great vintages. This regularity, which allows him to be compared sometimes advantageously to his older brother Pétrus, has built his reputation among amateurs all over the world. Moueix property.
The 2015 vintage in the press:
Vinous (N. Martin - February 2025): 95/100 "The 2015 Trotanoy is impressive, though I would not rank it amongst the best over the last decade. This has an engaging and complex bouquet with black cherry, mocha, balsamic and autumn leaf aromas that combine beautifully. This has the nose of a Pomerol aged for more than ten years. The palate is medium-bodied with pliant tannins, exquisite balance and poise. It is fresh and vibrant with a little more clarity and mineralité than the La Fleur-Pétrus. The 2015 is a wonderful Pomerol that is drinking delightfully right now."
More- To keep or to drink:
- Ready to drink
- Apogée:
- 2024-2036
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Trotanoy shines through the richness and elegance of its bouquet in small and great vintages. This regularity, which allows him to be compared sometimes advantageously to his older brother Pétrus, has built his reputation among amateurs all over the world. Moueix property.
The 2012 vintage in the press:
Vinous (N. Martin - February 2022): 93/100 "The 2012 Trotanoy offers blackberry, liquorice and truffle oil on the nose, moderate intensity, and it gains complexity with aeration. The palate is well balanced with a fine bead of acidity, gentle grip, plenty of white pepper mixed with clove, though I am seeking just a bit more depth on the finish. Fine, and coming back after 10 minutes, it seels to grow in stature."
More- To keep or to drink:
- Ready to drink
- Apogée:
- 2020-2032
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Trotanoy shines through the richness and elegance of its bouquet in small and great vintages. This regularity, which allows him to be compared sometimes advantageously to his older brother Pétrus, has built his reputation among amateurs all over the world. Moueix property.
The 2012 vintage in the press:
Vinous (N. Martin - February 2020): 94+/100 "The 2010 Trotanoy is surly and backward on the nose, clearly a Pomerol demanding extended cellaring. The palate is medium-bodied, its bold tannic chassis just beginning to soften. This has a superb bead of acidity threaded through the bell pepper-tinged, tertiary black fruit with a gentle but insistent grip on the finish. This is clearly a Pomerol of real pedigree and I adore its truffly aftertaste. Excellent."
More- To keep or to drink:
- Ready to drink
- Apogée:
- 2020-2032
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Vieux Château Certan is one (the last?) of the very few Bordeaux grands crus where the owners, Alexandre Thienpont and his son Guillaume since 2011, are still the only cellar masters on board. Thanks to its Cabernet Franc (30% on average), Vieux-Certan offers a firm, distinguished and refined version of Pomerol, closer to Lafleur than Petrus. Its 2022 vintage has been showered with praise, as in Vinous, where the two tasters (Galloni and Martin) each rated it 100/100.
More- To keep or to drink:
- Wait 5 to 10 years
- Apogée:
- 2033-2045
- Potential alcohol:
- 14.4%
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Vieux Château Certan is one (the last?) of the very few Bordeaux grands crus where the owners, Alexandre Thienpont and his son Guillaume since 2011, are still the only cellar masters on board. Thanks to its Cabernet Franc (30% on average), Vieux-Certan offers a firm, distinguished and refined version of Pomerol, closer to Lafleur than Petrus. Its 2022 vintage has been showered with praise, as in Vinous, where the two tasters (Galloni and Martin) each rated it 100/100.
The 2022 vintage in the press:
La Revue du Vin de France (Guide 2026): 99/100 "The finesse of the Thienpont family's style and the perfectly matured Cabernet make for a legendary 2022. In line with the 2019 and 2020 vintages, it seduces with its noble tannins and racy grace. It has at least fifty years of ageing potential ahead of it."
Vinous (A. Galloni - January 2025): 100/100 "The 2022 Vieux Château Certan is total stunner. Readers will find a magical wine, a Pomerol that satisfies both the intellectual and hedonistic senses. Vertical and explosive, with stunning presence, the 2022 VCC simply has it all. Time in the glass reveals myriad shades of nuance. Blue/purplish fruit, lavender, spice, menthol, licorice and plum literally soar out of the glass. The tannins are present but nearly buried by the wine's deep, layered fruit. But more than anything else, it is the balance, the total sense of harmony, that is most impressive. I simply can't ask anything more of the 2022, hence its lofty and well-deserved rating. Bravo!"
Bettane + Desseauve (Guide 2026) : 99/100
More- To keep or to drink:
- Wait 5 to 10 years
- Apogée:
- 2025-2040
- Potential alcohol:
- 14.4%
-
Vieux Château Certan is one (the last?) of the very few Bordeaux grands crus where the owners, Alexandre Thienpont and his son Guillaume since 2011, are still the only cellar masters on board. Thanks to its Cabernet Franc (30% on average), Vieux-Certan offers a firm, distinguished and refined version of Pomerol, closer to Lafleur than Petrus. Its 2022 vintage has been showered with praise, as in Vinous, where the two tasters (Galloni and Martin) each rated it 100/100.
The 2022 vintage in the press:
La Revue du Vin de France (Guide 2026): 99/100 "The finesse of the Thienpont family's style and the perfectly matured Cabernet make for a legendary 2022. In line with the 2019 and 2020 vintages, it seduces with its noble tannins and racy grace. It has at least fifty years of ageing potential ahead of it."
Vinous (A. Galloni - January 2025): 100/100 "The 2022 Vieux Château Certan is total stunner. Readers will find a magical wine, a Pomerol that satisfies both the intellectual and hedonistic senses. Vertical and explosive, with stunning presence, the 2022 VCC simply has it all. Time in the glass reveals myriad shades of nuance. Blue/purplish fruit, lavender, spice, menthol, licorice and plum literally soar out of the glass. The tannins are present but nearly buried by the wine's deep, layered fruit. But more than anything else, it is the balance, the total sense of harmony, that is most impressive. I simply can't ask anything more of the 2022, hence its lofty and well-deserved rating. Bravo! "
Bettane + Desseauve (Guide 2026) : 99/100
More- To keep or to drink:
- Wait 5 to 10 years
- Apogée:
- 2025-2040
- Potential alcohol:
- 14.4%
-
Vieux Château Certan is one (the last?) of the very few Bordeaux grands crus where the owners, Alexandre Thienpont and his son Guillaume since 2011, are still the only cellar masters on board. Thanks to its Cabernet Franc (30% on average), Vieux-Certan offers a firm, distinguished and refined version of Pomerol, closer to Lafleur than Petrus. Its 2022 vintage has been showered with praise, as in Vinous, where the two tasters (Galloni and Martin) each rated it 100/100.
The 2021 vintage in the press:
La Revue du Vin de France (Guide 2025): 97/100 “A great wine that benefits from the balance of yesteryear, with a slender frame wrapped in luscious, fleshy fruit. On the nose, it's a festival, with irresistible mineral and iodine intensity. The palate is lengthened by the almost-Medoc-like tannins (23% Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon) that punctuate the finish.”.
Vinous (A. Galloni - February 2024) : 98/100 “ Vieux Château Certan 2021 could well be the wine of the vintage in the Right Bank. Intensely aromatic and nuanced, with exceptional balance, the 2021 is immediately classy. Of course, it doesn't have the richness or density of most previous vintages, but it more than makes up for it with sublime harmony and great freshness.”
Bettane + Desseauve (Guide 2026) : 95/100
More- To keep or to drink:
- Wait 3 to 5 years
- Apogée:
- 2025-2040
-
Vieux Château Certan is one (the last?) of the very few Bordeaux grands crus where the owners, Alexandre Thienpont and his son Guillaume since 2011, are still the only cellar masters on board. Thanks to its Cabernet Franc (30% on average), Vieux-Certan offers a firm, distinguished and refined version of Pomerol, closer to Lafleur than Petrus. Its 2022 vintage has been showered with praise, as in Vinous, where the two tasters (Galloni and Martin) each rated it 100/100.
The 2015 vintage in the press:
Vinous (N. Martin - February 2025): 95/100 "The 2015 Vieux Château Certan can be highly variable from bottle. After two disappointing examples, this came out of the blue. It has an intense and powerful bouquet of black cherry, tobacco, brown spices and loamy aromas. This is very complex and compelling. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy, firm tannins surrounded bu plenty of flesh. This is vibrant, with a little dark chocolate and espresso toward the finish though it doesn't mask the terroir. I have to put a question mark against my score due to its variability."
En Magnum (2024): 98/100 “A magnificent encounter between power, opulence, freshness and intensity. A great vintage, combining great seduction, generosity and flavour”.
More- To keep or to drink:
- Ready to drink
- Apogée:
- 2025-2040
- Potential alcohol:
- 15%
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Like Pétrus, Le Pin is 100% Merlot. But if Pétrus has adopted a more classic style in recent years, Le Pin remains a hedonistic wine, often exuberant, sometimes even exotic. And unlike Pétrus, Le Pin is much rarer (500 cases per year).
The 2021 vintage in the press:
La Revue du Vin de France (September 2024): 97/100 “After a series of powerful vintages, 2021 returns to a dashing style, where accessibility and delicacy are the key words, recalling the balance of the Bordeaux of thirty years ago, with today's technical precision. Proprietor Jacques Thienpont points out that his 2021 reminds him of the great success of his 1994, considered to be the best of the vintage. You can't help but fall under its spell, with a kind of immediacy, combining small black berries, potpourri and zan. The touch is remarkable, with taffeta-like tannins and a quasi-Ligerian balance”.
Vinous (A. Galloni - December 2023): 91/100 “The 2021 Le Pin has turned out beautifully. Elevage has done wonders in building texture. Dark, pliant and super-expressive, the 2021 is fabulous right out of the gate. Bright acids resonate on the striking finish. Black cherry, plum, leather, spice, graphite and jasmine lend an exotic flair. Time in the glass releases the aromatics. The 2021 is a gorgeous wine.”
More- To keep or to drink:
- Wait 3 to 5 years
- Apogée:
- 2030-2045
-
Since the 1950s, Petrus has established itself as Bordeaux's most sought-after (and speculative) wine, thanks to its pure Merlot grape variety, delicate smoothness, refined tannins and exclusive distribution (production 25,000 to 30,000 bottles a year). Available in original one-bottle wooden cases.
The 2011 vintage in the press:
Vinous (N. Martin - Septembr 2021): 92/100 "The 2011 Petrus has plenty of fruit on the nose, elegant and floral, redcurrant and raspberry, fruit a touch of crushed stone and pressed rose petal. The palate is medium-bodied with a rounded, velvety-smooth and quite dense finish."
More- To keep or to drink:
- Ready to drink
- Apogée:
- 2030-2045
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A small vineyard of 8 ha of old vines (70% Merlot), owned by Clos Fourtet. Superb wine, balanced and fruity and tasty, for a very modest price, which rightly became a grand cru classé in 2012. Totally agree with La Revue du Vin de France "The best quality/price ratio in Saint-Émilion".
More- To keep or to drink:
- Wait 1 to 2 years
- Apogée:
- 2026-2036
- Potential alcohol:
- 14%
- Grape varieties:
- 95% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc
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A small vineyard of 8 ha of old vines (70% Merlot), owned by Clos Fourtet. Superb wine, balanced and fruity and tasty, for a very modest price, which rightly became a grand cru classé in 2012. Totally agree with La Revue du Vin de France "The best quality/price ratio in Saint-Émilion".
The 2021 vintage in the press:
La Revue du Vin de France (Guide 2025): 90/100 Coup de ♥ “The Cuvelier family signs another success in 2021. It's a typical Saint-Emilion, built on half-body, with judicious wood ageing that enhances the fruit and charming spice notes. Don't hesitate to open it now”.
Vinous (A. Galloni - December 2023): 91/100 “The 2021 Côte de Baleau is a delight. Plump, juicy and forward, the 2021 is a fine choice for drinking now and over the next decade or so. Silky tannins wrap around a core of sweet red cherry fruit, with touches of cedar, pipe tobacco, mint and mocha that linger. Charming. ”
More- To keep or to drink:
- Ready to drink
- Apogée:
- 2026-2036
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A small vineyard of 8 ha of old vines (70% Merlot), owned by Clos Fourtet. Superb wine, balanced and fruity and tasty, for a very modest price, which rightly became a grand cru classé in 2012. Totally agree with La Revue du Vin de France "The best quality/price ratio in Saint-Émilion".
The 2018 vintage in the press:
La Revue du Vin de France (December 2022): 91/100 “The wine from this Cuvelier family estate,[...] offers a dynamic and sensitive profile, characterized by generous fruit. Classified in 2012, confirmed in 2022, the cru has produced on the clay-limestone and clay-sand soils of the plateau, a 2018 of relative complexity but lovely texture.”
More- To keep or to drink:
- Ready to drink
- Apogée:
- 2025-2038
- Potential alcohol:
- 14.5%
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Bought in 2008 by the Vauthier family, this cru, ideally situated between La Gaffelière and Canon La Gaffelière, has undergone major restructuring: the 10 hectares have been completely replanted to achieve a density worthy of a premier grand cru classé (12,600 vines per hectare).
The high proportion of Cabernet Franc in the blend (40%) tempers the sun-drenched nature of the terroir (south-facing), and gives the wines an elegant, long-lasting structure. Recent vintages have convinced us that Haut-Simard deserves urgent attention.
Like all Vauthier vineyards (Ausone, La Clotte, Moulin Saint Georges...), Haut-Simard began its conversion to organic farming in 2020.
The 2022 vintage in the press:
Vinous (A. Galloni - January 2025) : 92/100 "The 2022 Haut-Simard is an explosive wine. A burst of dark red cherry/red plum, mocha, new leather and rose petal hits the palate. Vibrant and exuberant, the 2022 just needs a few years in bottle to fully come together, although it is pretty impressive today. Haut-Simard is the hidden gem in the Vauthier range this year."
More- To keep or to drink:
- Wait 1 to 2 years
- Apogée:
- 2026-2035
- Organic certification:
- 2023
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Bought in 2008 by the Vauthier family, this cru, ideally situated between La Gaffelière and Canon La Gaffelière, has undergone major restructuring: the 10 hectares have been completely replanted to achieve a density worthy of a premier grand cru classé (12,600 vines per hectare).
The high proportion of Cabernet Franc in the blend (40%) tempers the sun-drenched nature of the terroir (south-facing), and gives the wines an elegant, long-lasting structure. Recent vintages have convinced us that Haut-Simard deserves urgent attention.
Like all Vauthier vineyards (Ausone, La Clotte, Moulin Saint Georges...), Haut-Simard began its conversion to organic farming in 2020.
The 2020 vintage in the press:
Hachette (Guide 2024) “With 40% Cabernet Franc, this vintage stands out eloquently. The well-matched woody and vanilla notes, with their addition of fresh cherry and blackberry, and the round, velvety character of the palate make for a convincing whole, sustained by a beautiful freshness. An elegant wine with great potential”.
J-M Quarin (March 2023): 92/100 “Meticulous on entry, juicy in the middle, with brightness of flavor and body, the wine flows straight through to a meticulously woven finish. Fine grain. Incurable."
Vinous (A. Galloni - December 2022): 93/100 "The 2020 Haut-Simard is unusual in this year in that it includes 40% Cabernet Franc. That comes through in the wine's aromatic profile and overall energy. Bright red berry fruit, dried herbs, mint, sage and tobacco open first. The 2020 is a bit reticent, but it offers terrific energy and tons of nuance."
More- To keep or to drink:
- Ready to drink
- Apogée:
- 2025-2039
- Organic certification:
- 2023
-
Bought in 2008 by the Vauthier family, this cru, ideally situated between La Gaffelière and Canon La Gaffelière, has undergone major restructuring: the 10 hectares have been completely replanted to achieve a density worthy of a premier grand cru classé (12,600 vines per hectare).
The high proportion of Cabernet Franc in the blend (40%) tempers the sun-drenched nature of the terroir (south-facing), and gives the wines an elegant, long-lasting structure. Recent vintages have convinced us that Haut-Simard deserves urgent attention.
Like all Vauthier vineyards (Ausone, La Clotte, Moulin Saint Georges...), Haut-Simard began its conversion to organic farming in 2020.
The 2019 vintage in the press:
Vinous (N. Martin - February 2022) : 92/100 "The 2019 Haut-Simard was picked from September 18 to October 5. Blind, you might think this was a Left Bank wine; the 40% Cabernet Franc is very expressive and imparts attractive cedar and light tobacco scents. The palate is fresh and vibrant on the entry, with supple but quite firm tannins. Much more saline and certainly more complex than the Simard, delivering impressive weight and a touch of spiciness on the finish. Very classy."
More- To keep or to drink:
- Ready to drink
- Apogée:
- 2024-2032
- Organic certification:
- 2023
-
Bought in 2008 by the Vauthier family, this cru, ideally situated between La Gaffelière and Canon La Gaffelière, has undergone major restructuring: the 10 hectares have been completely replanted to achieve a density worthy of a premier grand cru classé (12,600 vines per hectare).
The high proportion of Cabernet Franc in the blend (40%) tempers the sun-drenched nature of the terroir (south-facing), and gives the wines an elegant, long-lasting structure. Recent vintages have convinced us that Haut-Simard deserves urgent attention.
Like all Vauthier vineyards (Ausone, La Clotte, Moulin Saint Georges...), Haut-Simard began its conversion to organic farming in 2020.
The 2018 vintage in the press:
J-M Quarin (January 2022): 92/100 “Delicious wine, with a silky mouthfeel, developing fragrantly and without tannic angles. Delicious length. Here again, the Cabernet Franc plays a major role”.
Vinous (A. Galloni - March 2021): 91/100 “The 2018 Haut-Simard is lively and expressive aromatically, with medium-weight structure and tons of verve. Sweet red cherry, blood orange, mint, sage, lavender and rose petals grace this vibrant, beautifully nuanced Saint-Emilion.”
More- To keep or to drink:
- Ready to drink
- Apogée:
- 2022-2034
-
Bought in 2008 by the Vauthier family, this cru, ideally situated between La Gaffelière and Canon La Gaffelière, has undergone major restructuring: the 10 hectares have been completely replanted to achieve a density worthy of a premier grand cru classé (12,600 vines per hectare).
The high proportion of Cabernet Franc in the blend (40%) tempers the sun-drenched nature of the terroir (south-facing), and gives the wines an elegant, long-lasting structure. Recent vintages have convinced us that Haut-Simard deserves urgent attention.
Like all Vauthier vineyards (Ausone, La Clotte, Moulin Saint Georges...), Haut-Simard began its conversion to organic farming in 2020.
The 2016 vintage in the press:
Vinous (N. Martin - December 2019): 93/100 “The 2016 Haut-Simard has a top-notch bouquet of gorgeous, well*defined blackberry, briar and raspberry aromas that burst from the glass.[...] The palate is medium-bodied with sappy black fruit, fine density and concentration and a very fine line of acidity. The oak (30% new) is seamlessly integrated, with a long tail on the finish. This is the finest Haut-Simard I have tasted. Excellent.”
J-M Quarin (April 2017): 91/100 “Meticulous on the attack, developing refined to the touch and melting. The wine evolves juicy and noble with lots of flavor and a long, seductive finish. A delight!”
More- To keep or to drink:
- Ready to drink
- Apogée:
- 2021-2036