Clos des Jacobins - Saint-Émilion 2021

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 Thibaut 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.

Clos des Jacobins is a blend of 80% Merlot, 18% Cabernet Franc and 2% Cabernet Sauvignon aged for 18 month in 75% new French oak barrels. I am not exaggerating when I say this is so far the best right bank wine I've tasted from the stupendous 2020 vintage. 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 Clos des Jacobins delivers unmatched finesse, power and length at this price point in Saint-Émilion. In fact, I'll say this wine delivers more than bottles at twice its cost. It is absolutely stunning! If you want to drink now be sure to decant the wine for at least half an hour, however, this is built to last: with proper cellaring you can enjoy over the next 15+ years, no problem.