Clos des Jacobins Saint-Émilion Grand Cru (Grand Cru Classé) 2019

Clos des Jacobins is situated at the entrance to the medieval town, right in the heart of the great Saint-Emilion wine estates.

Since the 17th century, this especially uniform vineyard forms a single plot around the cellars. It lies at the foot of the hill, and therefore benefits from the natural erosion of the plateau, which mixes limestone fragments with the clay. This location, coupled with its southern orientation, makes for a terroir that is early cropping and generous.

The name Clos des Jacobins comes from a group of Benedictine monks — known as Jacobins — who, working their vineyards just outside the city of Saint-Émilion, offered pilgrims on the road of St-Jacques de Compostel wine and shelter on their farm. Today, the estate is the crown jewel in the collection of Magali and Thibaut Descoter, who also own and operate three other Saint-Émilion Grand Cru estates, a restaurant and wine tourism business.

The vineyards of Clos des Jacobins cover 8.5 hectares with perfect southern exposure on soils of limestone rock, clay and calcareous scree. Magali and Tibaut have spared no expense in the vineyard or the cellar, and their hard work and dedication, along with the advice of Hubert de Bouard, have quietly made Clos des Jacobins the most outstanding value in Saint-Émilion.

All the cellars were entirely renovated starting in 2004. The wooden vats are temperature controlled. Offices, a reception and tasting room and a storage cellar were completed in July 2006.

Having been ranked amongst Saint-Emilion’s greatest wines between 1940 and 1950, Clos des Jacobins subsequently fell from favour, although it has been classified from the beginning of the Saint-Emilion Classification in 1995.

In the glass, the wine pours an opaque ruby with purple highlights. Soaring aromas of damson plum, cassis, and blackberry intermingle with vanilla, baking spice and a discrete graphite minerality. The palate is soft, sensual and decadent with velvet tannins and a perfectly balanced acidity that gives the wine its tensile strength. Super concentrated with loads of flavor intensity, the 2019 Clos des Jacobins delivers unmatched finesse, power and length at this price point in Saint-Émilion.

If you want to drink now be sure to decant the wine for at least half an hour and with proper cellaring you can enjoy over the next 15+ years.

Award:

89 Wine Spectator

91 Robert Park

94 James Suckling

VIVINO 4.3