Atop the limestone plateau of Saint-Émilion, Clos Saint Martin stands as a hidden jewel — the smallest classified growth in the appellation, yet one that commands the quiet respect of connoisseurs and collectors alike. Encompassing just over one hectare, the estate is a microcosm of Grand Cru Classé precision, tended with an artisanal focus rare even in this storied region.

Named after the ancient church that borders its vineyard, Clos Saint Martin is more than a name; it is a sanctuary of terroir. The vines, predominantly Merlot with a touch of Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon, are planted on deep limestone with a gentle southerly exposure. This is the very spine of Saint-Émilion — soil that imparts tension, purity, and a mineral core that defines the wine’s identity.

Winemaking here is guided by detail, not scale. Every vine is hand-tended, every cluster hand-sorted. Fermentation takes place in small temperature-controlled vats, and élevage unfolds in 100% new French oak — not for ostentation, but to cradle the wine through élevage, offering structure and aromatic lift. The approach is uncompromising, but never excessive.

Clos Saint Martin is a wine of both texture and luminosity. Aromas of blackberry, violets, graphite, and dark chocolate lead into a palate that is dense yet lifted, with fine, persistent tannins and a limestone edge that carries the finish long and pure. It is a wine that marries power and grace — structured, seductive, and capable of evolving beautifully over time.

Under the care of owner and winemaker Sophie Fourcade, Clos Saint Martin has remained deliberately under the radar. No grand châteaux gates, no sprawling vineyards — only quiet devotion to site and substance. It is one of the few estates where the human hand and vineyard voice meet in such intimate dialogue.

Clos Saint Martin is not made in volume but in vision — a cultivated rarity, where Saint-Émilion’s essence is rendered in meticulous detail and measured depth.