Enclos de la Clarière

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12 March 2026

Enclos de la Clarière comes from the Castillon side of the Saint-Émilion border. “Enclos” in the name points to a distinct, enclosed single vineyard parcel, and this wine comes from one such site, just six metres from some of Saint-Émilion’s most expensive Grands Crus Classés. Tony Laithwaite’s long connection with Castillon led him to buy the estate from his mentor, Jean Cassin, with the aim of showing that Castillon’s limestone terroir could stand shoulder to shoulder with neighbouring Saint-Émilion.

This is the 2022 vintage, made from 100% Merlot, with a year of ageing in a mix of new and seasoned French oak barrels and it comes in at 14% ABV.

In the glass, it has a garnet colour. The aroma is very expressive, with cedar, blackcurrant, graphite and a slight touch of tobacco. On the taste, there is deep black fruit, again with cedar and some graphite coming through clearly. It is dry, with a medium to full body, in fact about as full as I have had from 100% Merlot, and the tannins sit between low and medium, with a soft feel.

The Laithwaite website says to open it early and preferably decant it. Unusually for a French red, I found it great straight away, and extra airing, over hours or even the next day, did not seem to have any affect.

It is available from Laithwaites, usually at £20, reduced to only £14.99 for all of March 2026.

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