Château Clarisse 2018

Characteristics and tasting advice for Château Clarisse 2018

Tasting

Appearance

The wine displays a deep ruby hue with purple highlights, reflecting the vintage’s fine concentration.

Nose

The nose opens with expressive aromas of very ripe black fruits, notably blackberry and blackcurrant, alongside notes of blueberry and black cherry. Floral hints of violet add elegance, while touches of sweet vanilla, cocoa and chocolate enrich the aromatic palette. With aeration, spicy notes of cinnamon and nutmeg emerge, complemented by mineral and earthy nuances characteristic of the limestone terroir.

Palate

On the palate, the wine is medium- to full-bodied, with an attack supported by supple, velvety tannins. The tannic structure remains present and well integrated, wrapped in a fleshy, generous texture. Bright acidity brings lift and balance, carrying the palate through to a persistent finish with fruity and spicy notes. Overall, it reveals a fine harmony between richness and finesse.

Food and wine pairings

Château Clarisse 2018 is a perfect match for roasted or grilled red meats, notably lamb and beef. It also pairs well with game such as venison or wild boar, as well as duck and poultry in sauce. Dishes featuring wild mushrooms and aged hard cheeses also make excellent pairings.

Serving and cellaring

Château Clarisse 2018 is best enjoyed at a temperature between 15.5 and 16°C. Decanting for forty-five minutes to one hour before serving allows the wine to fully reveal its aromatic complexity. This wine can be enjoyed until around 2035.

A balanced and elegant Puisseguin-Saint-Émilion by Château Clarisse

The estate

Created in 2009 in Bordeaux, Château Clarisse covers 24 hectares on the Puisseguin-Saint-Émilion plateau, spread across around forty plots on Oligocene limestone and clay soils. Olivia and Didier Le Calvez named the estate after their daughter. Didier Le Calvez oversees the property with oenological guidance from Stéphane Derenoncourt. The estate stands out for its hand-harvesting, its organic certification obtained in 2019, and its commitment to biodiversity through hedgerows, agroforestry and beehives.

The vineyard

The Château Clarisse vineyard enjoys an exceptional setting on the plateau of Puisseguin-Saint-Émilion, reaching 105 meters above sea level, one of the highest points in the appellation. The vines grow on clay-limestone soils rich in Asterian limestone, giving the wine its distinctive minerality and fine tannic structure. The estate spans twenty hectares divided into thirty distinct plots. Certified organic since 2019, the vineyard favors practices that respect the environment and biodiversity.

The vintage

The 2018 vintage unfolded under generally favorable climatic conditions. After a wet spring that replenished the soil’s water reserves, the relatively warm summer enabled optimal grape ripening while preserving natural acidity. This weather pattern encouraged fine aromatic concentration and a remarkable balance between richness and freshness.

Winemaking and aging

Château Clarisse 2018 is vinified in temperature-controlled cement vats, with pump-overs three times a day to ensure controlled extraction. The grapes are vinified as whole clusters, a technique that promotes finesse and preserves aromatic freshness. Malolactic fermentation takes place partly in vats and partly in French oak barrels. Aging lasts fourteen months in barrels, 33% new oak and 67% previously used barrels, allowing the wine to develop complexity and texture while preserving the integrity of the fruit.

Grape varieties

Merlot (40%)
Cabernet Franc (57%)
Carménère (3%)