Clos du Clocher: Vineyards
Clos du Clocher is actually located on a small roundabout in Catusseau, one of the many small villages and hamlets that dot the Pomerol appellation. For many years it has worn a rather tired facade, but behind this there has been extensive upgrading and refurbishment in recent years, and proprietor Jean-Baptiste Bourotte now has a tasting room and barrel cellar worthy of the appellation.
The vineyards, as I have already indicated in my history of the domaine, are not all located in one block. There are three significant parcels; the first, and original, sits on the Rue de Tropchaud, south of the Église Saint-Jean, and this plot is identifiable by the roadside archway (pictured above, the vineyard and church behind it, and below, with vineyard marker) which sits halfway along its length. The vines here amount to 2.62 hectares, and are entirely Merlot, some of which date back to 1957, planted immediately after the vineyards were devastated by the great frost of 1956. Other parcels here date to 1988 and 2002. There was a little Cabernet Franc here too, but Jean-Baptiste top-grafted this to Merlot in 2015.
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