WINE
Clos de la Barbanne is located in Montagne-Saint-Émiilion, a satellite village of the prestigious Saint-Émilion appellation of the Bordeaux wine region of France. Montagne Saint-Emilion is known for its red wines, which are predominately made from Merlot grapes blended with Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. These wines are typically known for their power and structure, with flavors of dark fruits, spices, truffle, and tobacco.
The soil of Clos de la Barbanne is composed of silty clay and sand over decomposed limestone, which is ideal for producing wines with complexity and depth. The location of its gentle, south-facing slopes provides the vines with excellent sun exposure and good drainage. And the average old age of the vineyard means the roots of the vines tap into water sources deep below the surface, which is beneficial when the growing season is challenged by high temperatures and drought.
In 2022, Clos de la Barbanne was proud to be HVE-3/Haute Valeur Environnementale niveau 3 certified, which is the French administration’s highest level of environmental certification for agricultural practices. It focuses on promoting biodiversity, reducing the environmental impact of agricultural practices, and preserving the quality of natural resources.
The high quality wines of Clos de la Barbanne are made from hand-harvested grapes, picked when they are perfectly ripe in order to achieve balance of sugar, acidity, and structure. They are then aged for a minimum of 15 months in a combination of new French oak barrels, 1- and 2-year-old French oak barrels, and amphora before bottling and packaging. As an estate of only 1.67 hectares (4 acres), production is limited to an average of 6,000 bottles per vintage, which makes Clos de la Barbanne’s niche wines highly sought after by wine enthusiasts, collectors, and gastronomic restaurants.
VINTAGES
Old-vine Merlot dominates the vineyard plantings of Clos de la Barbanne, but a proportion of 80+ year old Cabernet Franc vines lend complexity to the blend. While each vintage is its own expression of the terroir and growing conditions of that year, they all boast concentrated dark fruit flavors, balanced acidity, a long finish, and great aging potential.
2020
The last of three successive excellent vintages. Bud-break and flowering were earlier than usual, but a warm, dry summer enabled the Merlot to ripen and accumulate sugar slowly. The wine has a concentrated, juicy dark fruit character balanced by lively acidity, delivering a long, harmonious finish.
2019
A bout of late-Spring frost was followed by a hot, dry summer, leading to a sneakily great vintage overall. A combination of wood and spice notes harmoniously balance this wine's youthful, concentrated black fruit character. This wine is just hitting its stride, and we are eager to follow its development over the next 10 years.
2018
Spring conditions were difficult, but conditions during summer and harvest season were excellent. The aromas of fresh red fruit are accompanied by a floral perfume that jumps out of the glass. We are very fond of this wine right now and are very excited to watch it evolve. It has complexity even in youth, so it surely will age magnificently.
2017
A challenging season from start to finish led to a small yield, but the resulting wine is lively and refreshing. Bright red fruit and sweet spice aromas lead the way on this easy-drinking, lighter expression of Merlot. It is a fascinating wine that is just reaching its perfect maturity.
2016
Another fantastic vintage. Despite its age, this vintage is still so much in its youth. Great concentration of darker fruit and spicy notes are accentuated by the balanced acidity. This combination of concentration, acidity, and round tannin structure will ensure that this wine evolves gracefully over the next decade.
2015
The best vintage in recent memory! The perfect weather conditions led to a big wine with exceptional fruit, round tannins, and a long-lasting finish. This wine is in a perfect state right now, but make sure to save a few bottles to age 5-10 years.
2014
A fine vintage where ripeness and concentration of fruit were in harmony. The fruit tends toward the darker side of red, think dark cherry or black currant. The concentration and bold tannins will carry this wine for some time. It drinks nicely now but will continue to open up and smooth out for 5-10 years.
2013
Widely considered a difficult vintage, this vintage shows great complexity and liveliness and is in a perfect drinking window. The color is deep ruby, with bright red fruit on the nose and palate. There are smooth but well-structured tannins that will continue to ensure the evolution of this wine over the next 5-6 years.