Château la Clotte

Identity

Château La Clotte is a winegrowing estate located in the commune of Saint-Émilion, in Gironde. It is owned by the Vauthier family. Pauline Vauthier, representing the eleventh generation of winegrowers in her family, manages the estate. Nelly Moulierac was the estate director and cellar master alongside Yannick Joudinaud, who also served as vineyard manager.

History and philosophy

The history of Château La Clotte dates back to the 16th century with the Maison de Grailly, which held ownership until the early 20th century. In 1912, Sylvain Chailleau acquired the property. His heir, Georges Chailleau, took over in 1931 and played a key role in championing the appellation. Prior to 1973, the estate was leased to Maison Jean-Pierre Moueix. In 1990, Georges Chailleau's granddaughters—Nelly Mouliérac, Dominique Tord, and Odile Plantade—took over the property.

In 2014, the Vauthier family acquired Château La Clotte. The estate's philosophy centres on producing a single grand vin, prioritising quality through yield control. The estate is certified organic.

Appellations

Château La Clotte produces wines under the Saint-Émilion Grand Cru appellation. The vineyard is situated in the Saint-Émilion sub-region.

Signature wines

The estate concentrates on producing a single red wine, renowned for its ageing potential. The wines are crafted with exacting precision, reflecting the distinct expression of their terroir. On average, approximately 15,000 standard 75cl bottles are produced each year. There is neither a second wine nor a clairet.

Practical information

Château La Clotte is located at 1, Bergat, 33330 Saint-Émilion. For further information, the estate can be contacted by telephone on 05 57 24 66 85 or by email at chateau-la-clotte@wanadoo.fr. The estate does not offer cellar-door sales, tours, catering, or accommodation.

Find out more

Official estate website

The vineyard (terroir)

The vineyard of Château La Clotte spans an area of 4 hectares. It was established in the 17th century. The vines, with an average age of around fifty years, enjoy a south-facing exposure and are sheltered from the winds by the Bergat and La Clotte rock formations. The terroir is characterised by stepped limestone and clay-limestone plateaux situated in the Fongaban valley. The planting density is 6,000 vines per hectare.

The grape varieties are dominated by Merlot, which accounts for 80% of the parcels, complemented by Cabernet Franc (15%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (5%). The harvest is carried out by hand.

Vinification and ageing

Harvesting is carried out entirely by hand. Reception of the grapes relies on gravity, followed by rigorous sorting. Vinification takes place in stainless steel vats with submerged cap maceration. Malolactic fermentation is carried out in barrels. Ageing lasts approximately 18 months in new oak barrels.