Château Clarke – 2015
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Introduction
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Château Clarke takes its name from the Irish family who bought this estate in 1771. After more than two centuries of wine growing tradition and successive owners, the property was purchased by Baron Edmond de Rothschild in 1973. The vineyard was completely restructured and massive investments were undertaken in order to renovate buildings and improve wine making and storage facilities. With a passion for excellence and the best things in life, the Baron made Clarke a benchmark for the whole region.
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Vineyard Profile
- Appellation: Listrac-Medoc
- Composition: 70% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon
- Size: 55 ha (135.9 acres)
- Vine Age: 30 years
- Soil: Limestone and clay
- Density: 7,000 vines/ha
- Training: Natural grass cover, double Guyot
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Vintage Report
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2015 began with a very dry season that put the vines into hydric stress, stopping the veraison. Some rainfall in early August allowed the ripening process to carry on until harvest. September and October were rather sunny and dry, ideal for the grapes to reach their expected maturity.
- Harvest Date(s): Merlot from September 21 to October 5; Cabernet Sauvignon from October 6 and 7
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Vinification
- Fermentation: The grapes are put into vats via gravity flow, followed by cold soaking and fermentation in both oak and stainless steel tanks. Moderate extraction adapted to each vat by pumping over and delestage (rack and return)
- Aging: 16 months, 100% in barrels (two-thirds new and one-third second fill)
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Technical Information
- Alcohol: 14.0%
- Optimum Drinking: Up to 15 years, the suggested drinking window is from 2019 to 2030
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Tasting Notes
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Château Clarke 2015 is a beautiful crimson color with a deep purple rim. Both intense and complex, the nose displays fresh fruit aromas (black currant and black cherry) and elegant oak nuances, as well as hints of menthol and liquorice with aeration. The wine starts out round and straightforward and follows with rich, concentrated and velvety tannic texture along with beautiful acidity that provides balance and freshness.
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Images
Reviews
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Château Clarke – 2015 – Decanter – 92 Points
This is a very good wine with succulent black fruits, richness, great aromatics, and a juicy finish. Gourmet in style, with mouthwatering salinity on the finish that you also get in 2014 and is less clear in the earlier vintages. Eric Boissenot consultant as of this vintage.
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Château Clarke – 2015 – Wine Enthusiast – 93 Points
This estate has belonged to the Edmond de Rothschild family since 1973. From one of the top performing properties in Listrac, this wine is well proportioned, rich and dense. It has weight but its main thrust is elegance, with stylish black-currant fruit, acidity and a dry core from the wood aging. The wine will age well and should not be drunk before 2023.
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Château Clarke – 2015 – James Suckling – 91 Points
Sweet and generous but also with quite a slug of dry tannins, and that really gives the wine some character and drive at the finish. You can drink it now, but better in 2020.
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Château Clarke – 2015 – 90-92 Points – The Wine Advocate
The 2015 Clarke has an attractive blackberry and briary scented nose with just a hint of dark chocolate emanating from the new oak. The palate is medium-bodied with fine grain tannin, the acidity nicely judged with fine tension on the cedar and tobac