Chateau Clarke, Listrac Medoc AC

Additional information

Origin	Bordeaux, France, Listrac
Other grapes	Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot
Main grapes	Merlot
Vintage	2015
Bottle sizes	75cl

Description

Chateau Clarke is a Bordeaux red wine made in the Listrac Medoc wine-growing appellation of Bordeaux by Baron Edmond de Rothschild.

Baron Edmond de Rothschild bought both Chateau Clarke and Chateau Malmaison in 1973 and founded the Compagnie Vinicole Baron Edmond de Rothschild. The Baron is the great-grandson of James de Rothschild who had purchased Chateau Lafite in 1868. Today, as well as Chateau Clarke, Baron Edmond de Rothschild owns, or co-owns, Chateau des Laurets (Pesseguin St Emilion), Flechas de Los Andes (Argentina), Rimapere (New Zealand), Macan (Rioja, Spain) and Rupert and Rothschild (South Africa).

The estate comprises some 55 hectares. It was purchased by an Irishman, Tobie Clarke, in the 18th Century. The wines produced here would become quite famous during the 20th century; however, the Chateau was largely forgotten when Edmond de Rothschild purchased it in 1973. He immediately set about uprooting the old vines and replanting, an expensive and time-consuming process not completed until 1979. Benjamin de Rothschild took over the reins of the Chateau from his father in 1999 and set about updating the winery and enlisting Michel Rolland as a consultant oenologist to make it an icon of the Listrac Medoc appellation.

Chateau Clarke Winemaking

Chateau Clarke is the estate’s top red wine. The vineyards now have a vine age of over 30 years old and are situated on clay-limestone soils. The vineyard is planted with Cabernet Sauvignon (48%), Merlot (42%), Cabernet Franc (8%), and Petit Verdot (2%). The grapes are manually harvested from low-yielding plots, sorted at the winery and and channelled into the tanks by gravity. The wine undergoes a period of cold maceration followed by fermentation in oak and stainless steel. The wine is then aged in French oak barrels (2/3 new, 1/3 second fill) where it is matured for 16 months.

The final blend is 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon. Production is around 200,000 bottles.

Tasting Notes

Chateau Clarke is a Merlot-led wine with an intense and complex nose dominated by aromas of fresh fruit (blackcurrant, black cherry) mixed with fine woody notes. There are also slight minty and liquorice notes. The palate is full and round with a with a dense and velvety tannic structure, accompanied by a balanced natural acidity, which gives this wine a beautiful freshness.

Food Pairing

Try with roasted and grilled red meats, particularly lamb, and truffled cheeses.

WineWiki

The Listrac Medoc appellation was established as an Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée (AOC) in 1957. It is the youngest and one of the smallest Bordeaux appellations, with a vineyard area spanning approximately 600 to 650 hectares. It is located inland at higher elevations (up to 43 meters) where the soils tend to be a mix of gravel and clay-limestone. It has a slightly cooler microclimate than its estuarine neighbours like Margaux or Pauillac.

Listrac has no classified growths from the 1855 Bordeaux Classification, but it does have some Cru Bourgeois estates along with some Cru Artisan producers. Well-known producers include Château Clarke, Château Fonréaud and Chateau Lestage.