1924-2024
A CENTURY OF PATIENCE AND CARE
Some hundred years ago, in 1924, Jean-Baptiste Audy became the owner of some truly magnificent plots of land situated at the foot of the church in Pomerol. As he looked up at the sky, the high bell tower amidst the vines of the plateau he now owned caught his eye.
This scenic view inspired him to name his estate Clos du Clocher.
Since then, this Clos has consistently produced an exceptional wine that captures the unique character of the gravelly, blue-clay terroir.
Each winegrower responsible for Clos du Clocher has inherited a challenging but gratifying task—to serve this extraordinary soil with an unwavering commitment to rigor, discretion, and perseverance.
THE ESTATE'S ORIGINS
Where it all began
After founding his merchant firm, Jean-Baptiste Audy wanted to take root in the great Pomerol terroirs. In 1924, he bought magnificent plots next to the church, in the heart of the plateau with its blue clay soil. Clos du Clocher was thus born. Next came selfless dedication and a gradual learning process of working with nature, generation after generation.
A PLATEAU AND ITS MAGIC
Vineyard maps
In the heart of the appellation
Thanks to its exceptional elasticity, the distinctive blue clay soil perfectly regulates the water supply and enables excellent synthesis of the grape’s polyphenols. Blue clay is the birthplace of wines that combine power and finesse.
Blue clay
Hear about how a vintage is created, from the soil to the cellar. Learn more about the aesthetic relationship with the vine, the vision of how wines evolve... By Jean-Baptiste Bourotte and Technical Director Mathieu Bonté.
Soul of Pomerol
listen to a podcast about the story of a unique terroir
The surface gravel – fluvial deposits – provides natural drainage and regulates the mineral supply. This means that the vines are naturally well-balanced, ensuring grapes of the highest quality.
Gravel
The intensely fruity Merlot takes pride of place, but our 70-year-old Cabernet Francs have long been giving the final blend its extraordinary character. Accounting for 30% of the final blend, the Cabernet Francs add complexity, freshness and subtlety.
Grape varieties
REVEALING THE TERROIRS
Preserving our land
Our land is naturally grassed or sown with oats and clover. Supplemented with compost, these methods structure the soil and provide minerals. This approach also protects the land from adverse weather conditions and erosion, thus safeguarding its future.
IN SEARCH OF AESTHETICS
With the precision of old engravings, the label tells the story and magic of the terroir: the plot of Merlot, the Jean-Baptiste Audy signpost, the church in the background... the landscape of the Pomerol plateau remains unchanged, reproduced in (near) life size format on the stamp of a wooden case unique in the world of great wines. The nails have been removed, a hand can run smoothly over the intact lid.
Engravings
The current building, designed by Bordeaux-based architects Fabre de Marien, boasts the hallmarks of Clos du Clocher’s original Art Deco style. Bold geometric forms and the use of concrete, oak and glass materials mirror the containers used to produce our wines, from vat to barrel to bottle. Here as everywhere, simplicity and restraint reign.
Architecture
To symbolically round off our wonderful garden, Maxime Lis, founder of Acte Minimum and designer registered with the Mobilier National, has designed a sculpture reminiscent of the estate’s architecture, which is both a landmark on the plateau and a window onto the steeple. Inspired by the changing horizon when moving through the rows of vines, the steel plates - sometimes huge and imposing, sometimes vanishing from view - are a mise en abyme, an ode to the winemaker’s movements.