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2020 Clos de l'Oratoire

Not Currently In Auction

Latest Sale Price

July 13, 2025 - $36

Estimate

RATINGS

96James Suckling

Some black pepper with crushed stone. Black berries, black cherries, and bark. Medium-bodied with lovely fruit and balance, and a gorgeous finish of peaches and tangerines. Fantastic.

94Jeb Dunnuck

...medium to full-bodied, focused, elegant 2020 has good concentration, the vintage's pure, layered profile, classic aromas of black raspberry, cassis, graphite, and flowers, and plenty of chalky minerality on the finish.

92The Wine Advocate

...seamless and charming, offering up aromas of sweet cherries, blackberries, violets and licorice, followed by a medium to full-bodied, velvety and harmonious palate.

92Vinous / IWC

...has a crisp and pure bouquet with blackberry and raspberry fruit mixed with cedar and potpourri...palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins and graphite-infused red fruit, with a linear, fresh and almost Left Bank finish. Excellent.

91.5CellarTracker

91Wine Spectator

Reveals ripe plum and blackberry fruit that meld nicely with hints of anise, black tea and singed alder. The focused and fine-grained finish has a late savory sparkle for range.

16.5Jancis Robinson

Intense blackcurrant fruit. Vibrant fruit, perhaps a touch sweet-sour but the tannins are smooth and fine already. Juicy but creamy.

PRODUCER

Clos de l'Oratoire

Clos de l’Oratoire is a 25-acre Grand Cru estate in the appellation of St.-Emilion, in Bordeaux. It is owned by Vignobles Comtes von Neipperg, a family of military leaders and wine estate owners originally from Germany, where the family’s winemaking history goes back to the 12th century. In 1971 the family purchased four estates in St.-Emilion, and several of them, including this one, are run by Stephan von Neipperg. Vineyards are planted to 90% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. Some 40,000 bottles are produced each year. There is no second wine. Robert M. Parker Jr. has written that “Stephan von Neipperg …has pushed this wine’s quality into St.-Emilion’s top echelon.”

REGION

France, Bordeaux, St.-Émilion

Saint-Émilion is on the east side of the Dordogne River. At 13,400 acres it is one of Bordeaux’s largest appellations, and perhaps its most picturesque. It is also home to what has been called “the garagiste” movement of upstart, tradition-defying winemakers who produce artisanal wines in styles that are unconventional for the appellation. The village of Saint-Émilion dates from the middle ages and it sits on low hills, surrounded by ancient walls. Like its neighbor Pomerol, Saint-Émilion was not included in the famous Bordeaux classification system of 1855. But a century later a ranking system was put in place, and unlike the classification system for the Medoc, the Saint-Émilion system is reviewed every ten years, meaning that estates can be upgraded or downgraded. There are three rankings: Grand Cru Classé, Premier Grand Cru Classé B and Premier Grand Cru Classé A, with the final ranking being the best. Such legendary Saint-Émilion estates as Châteaux Ausone and Cheval-Blanc are Premier Grand Cru Classé A, along with Châteaux Pavie and Angélus, both added to the classification in 2012. Wines in this appellation are primarily Merlot, mixed with Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon.

VINTAGE

2020 Clos de l'Oratoire