Tucked into the limestone folds just outside the medieval village of Saint-Émilion, Château La Clotte is a hidden jewel within Bordeaux’s right bank. Though modest in scale, its story is deeply rooted in the region’s viticultural heritage. The estate came into the care of the Becot family in 1912—a lineage already entwined with the Grand Cru Classé tradition through nearby Château Beau-Séjour Bécot. For over a century, La Clotte remained under their quiet stewardship, its legacy built on patience, continuity, and an enduring sense of place.

The vineyard spans just over 4 hectares, making it one of the smallest classified growths in Saint-Émilion. Yet its location is exceptional. Carved into a south-facing slope of the limestone plateau, the vines rest on a geological tapestry of clay atop pure rock, offering superb drainage and deep mineral resonance. Merlot dominates the plantings, chosen for its affinity with this cool, calcareous soil, while Cabernet Franc and a touch of Cabernet Sauvignon lend aromatic lift and structure. The vineyard’s natural amphitheatre captures sunlight while retaining a core of freshness, giving rise to fruit that is ripe yet restrained.

In the cellar, tradition meets precision. Grapes are hand-harvested, fermented in temperature-controlled vats, and matured in French oak barrels—carefully apportioned between new and used wood to preserve balance. The style of La Clotte is understated yet firm: ripe plum and blackberry give way to notes of graphite, crushed stone, and subtle spice. There is a quiet tension to the wine—an interplay between softness and structure, fruit and mineral—that mirrors the contours of the landscape itself.

Following its full integration into the Beau-Séjour Bécot team in 2014, La Clotte has entered a new chapter. Under the guidance of Juliette Bécot and consulting oenologist Thomas Duclos, the estate continues to evolve while staying true to its roots. There is a renewed energy behind the wines—finesse sharpened, detail clarified—but always with respect for the delicate imprint of the terroir.

Château La Clotte stands as a meditative expression of Saint-Émilion limestone—compact, composed, and shaped by time.