Clos St. Martin St. Emilion, Bordeaux wine producer profile, with a history of the property, plus information on their wine making techniques and their terroir, along with wine tasting reviews and links
This Bordeaux wine property is managed by Sophie Fourcade. Fourcade gave up her promising career as a successful attorney to make Bordeaux wine at the family properties. Sophie is also in charge of two other St. Emilion estates, Chateau Grandes Murailles and Chateau Cote de Baleau.
Clos St. Martin with its 1.33-hectare vineyard is the smallest classified Bordeaux wine in St. Emilion. In fact, it’s also the smallest classiified Bordeaux wine I know of. But good things come in small packages.
Clos St. Martin is sensuous. It’s round, opulent, soft textures, coupled with plums, dark berries, licorice and minerality. Vintages prior to 2000 are not produced in the same style. 2005 remains the finest wine this estate has ever produced. While difficult to find, it’s worth the effort to locate at least a few bottles.
This property is located near the St. Martin Church, which is where the name comes from, The Bordeaux wine vineyard is planted to 70% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon in a mix of clay and limestone soils on the limestone plateau.
Consulted by Michel Rolland, the wine undergoes an eight-day pre-fermentation, cold maceration at 8° C. The must is fermented in 100% new oak barrels with a 48-day maceration period. Malo is conducted in barrel with the first four months spent on the lees that are stirred twice a week. The wine is aged in 100% new oak barrels from eight different coopers for close to 20 months. Starting with 2008, the wine will be fermented in new oak, then placed back in the same barrel to add additional freshness and a softer feel to the fruit. Most vintages produce about 500 cases per year.
3 Comments
I am drinking the 1998 now (15 Dec 2012) and it’s sublime. The supposed lack of depth is just nonsense.
Hi James…. Thank you for posting. My note if close to 4 years old. The wine could have improved, or it’s just that we like different things in wine. Different horses for different courses.
Regardless of which Clos St. Martin we prefer, I think we agree the wine they make is such a nice style. They are one of my favorite St. Emilion estates.