By Clos de l'Oratoire
2018 Vintage

Wine Details
Blend: 85% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc
Harvest Dates: 09/21 to 10/04/2018
Yield: 36 hl/ha
Alcohol: 14.50%

Winemaking
Fermentation: In wooden vats for 30 days; extraction by pneumatic pigeage (punching down the cap)
Aging: In new oak barrels (45%) on the lees for 16 months; no fining
Bottling: Chateau-bottled on the 28th and 29th of May 2020
[Information provided by Beyerman]

Wine: 2018 Clos De L'Oratoire
Score/Rating: 95+
Suggested Drinking Window: 2025 - 2055
Review Date: 03/11/2021
Reviewed By: Jeb Dunnuck
Tasting Notes: The team of Stephan von Neipperg knocked it out of the park in 2018, producing a brilliant lineup of wines. The 2018 Clos De L'Oratoire checks in as 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc that was brought up in 45% new French oak. As with most of the new releases here, it has a crunchy, vibrant style in its blue fruits, scorched earth, violets, cedarwood, and dried flower-like aromas and flavors. Beautifully balanced, pure, elegant, and seamless, this incredibly classy Saint-Emilion is going to benefit from 4-5 years of bottle age (if not longer) and evolve for 30 years in cold cellars. It's certainly in the running for the finest vintage I've tasted.

Wine: 2018 Clos de l'Oratoire
Score/Rating: 95
Suggested Drinking Window: 2024 - 2038
Review Date: 03/2021
Reviewed By: Antonio Galloni
Tasting Notes: The 2018 Clos de l'Oratoire is an absolutely gorgeous wine that needs quite some time to release all of its aromatic intensity, nuance and energy. Bright floral notes soar over a core of dense, red-toned fruit as the 2018 gradually shows off its considerable allure. The 2018 is vivid and striking, with character to burn.

Wine: Clos de l'Oratoire St.-Emilion 2018
Score/Rating: 94
Review Date: 01/24/2021
Reviewed By: James Suckling
Tasting Notes: Aromas of fresh blackberries, dried leaves, bitter chocolate, lemon zest and walnuts. Some wet earth, too. It’s medium-to full-bodied with firm, fine-grained tannins. Tight, focused layers. Rather juicy wine. Better from 2025.

Wine: 2018 Clos de l'Oratoire
Score/Rating: 93
Suggested Drinking Window: 2023 - 2043
Review Date: 03/31/2021
Reviewed By: Lisa Perrotti-Brown
Tasting Notes: The 2018 Clos de l'Oratoire sports a deep garnet-purple color and rock-star nose of plum preserves, chocolate-covered cherries and mulberries, plus hints of candied violets, licorice and Sichuan pepper with a waft of tapenade. The medium to full-bodied palate is laden with juicy black fruits plus loads of exotic spice and earthy accents, supported by very ripe, soft tannins and seamless freshness, finishing long and fragrant.

Wine: Clos de l'Oratoire St.-Emilion 2018
Score/Rating: 93
Suggested Drinking Window: Drink now through 2032
Review Date: 03/31/2021
Reviewed By: James Molesworth
Tasting Notes: A mix of dried herb, floral and steeped cherry and damson plum notes is layered tightly together, while mouthwatering sanguine and iron hints run alongside. Sandalwood edge to the finish. A long, very precise, mineral-driven style. Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2022 through 2032.

Wine: 2018 Clos de l'Oratoire (St. Emilion Grand Cru)
Score/Rating: 93
Review Date: 03/09/2021
Tasting Notes: Truffle, flowers, licorice, mint and red fruits are all over the place here. Silky, soft and refined with a salty top note to the tannins that rides along nicely with all the ripe, fresh, red fruits. The wine blends 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc.

Wine: Clos de l'Oratoire, St-Emilion, Grand Cru Classe, 2018
Score/Rating: 93
Suggested Drinking Window: 2024 - 2040
Review Date: 11/09/2020
Reviewed By: Jane Anson
Tasting Notes: Deep plum colour, this has the rich texture and multi-layered dried herbs and spice feel that you often get with Clos de l'Oratoire. Juicy damson fruits come in through the mid palate and this is big and confident, and well balanced by slate minerality through the finish.

Wine: 2018 Clos de l'Oratoire
Score/Rating: 88
Suggested Drinking Window: 2023-2032
Review Date: 02/09/2023
Reviewed By: Lisa Perrotti-Brown
Tasting Notes: Clos de l’Oratoire 2018 is deep garnet-purple in color. It offers baked black plums and juicy blackberries, with a waft of chocolate box and Indian spices, and a touch of cardamom. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is firm and chewy, with a slightly drying finish.

Wine: Clos de l'Oratoire 2018 St-Emilion
Score/Rating: 16.5/20
Suggested Drinking Window: 2028 - 2042
Review Date: 02/09/2022
Reviewed By: Jancis Robinson
Tasting Notes: Diam 30 closure. Tasted blind. Blackish crimson. Perfumed, heady ripe fruit. Mouth-filling, savoury and more interesting than most. Definitely more savoury than sweet fruit here. The finish is still dry but not terminally drying. Lots of acidity and muscle.