Château Clarke, 750 ml

The origins of the Château Clarke estate date back to the 12th century when the Cistercian monks of the Vertheuil Abbey planted the first vines. More recently, Knight Tobie Clarke purchased the land that would permanently bear his name in 1818. Then, after being repeatedly handed down and finally sold, the property was bought in 1973 by the Baron Edmond de Rothschild. It was at this time that the neglected vineyard was replanted, and then completely recreated between 1974 and 1978, to attain a final wine-producing area of 54 hectares. Today, the vines are planted on clay limestone hilltops that enable the Merlot grape to express itself at its best. Since the first vintage year at Château Clarke, bottled in 1978, the quality of the wines has never ceased to improve. The ancient buildings have been restored, and the techniques and equipment used in the wine-making process have been brought up to date. Particular attention is paid to the methods of cultivation and wine production, which are subject to the most stringent controls. The handpicked grapes are carefully transported and meticulously sorted in the cellar and then vatted through simple gravity into superb wooden vats. The wine is then placed in new barrels, where it is left to mature for 14 and 18 months. Thus, the wine from Château Clarke is a true reflection of the land that made it – concentrated and distinguished. It allies power with aromatic complexity, and has great potential for ageing. Since 1997, Baron Benjamin de Rothschild has followed in the tradition of his father, transmitting his own passion for excellence to his dynamic workforce. Tasting notes: Intense and complex nose, black fruit and smoke, full body, dense, with a beautiful flesh. Intense deep purple red, concentrated yet fresh blackcurrant fruit, good depth but not over extracted. Touch of green but has enough depth to carry it through. Food and wine: Drink with grilled meat, and french cheese.