July 2013
After meeting in viticulture classes in the 1970’s, Christian Dauriac and Michel Rolland both went into the wine business in their own way. In 1996, Michel suggested La Clemence to Christian. It would take faith to turn around this plot of land that had lain uncared for for years, but Christian took the leap. Several years of work went into cleaning up La Clemence, six plots of vines divided between Merlot and Cabernet Franc. The crowning moment was in 2000, when they constructed their massive circular cellar in the middle of the vineyard. The design celebrates the Pomerol terroir, the walls decorated with the three kinds of soil present in the winery, red iron soil, blue clay, and white sand. Christian and Michel have worked together at several Bordeaux vineyards, all known for producing luxurious wines. The 2000 specifically is the first wine from La Clemence, one that Robert Parker calls, “the strongest effort to date from the Dauriac-Rolland team.”
Chateau La Clemence Pomerol 2000 $99.95 Vinopolpick Special $79 SOLD OUT
91 Points Robert Parker “This looks to be the strongest effort to date from the Dauriac-Rolland team. Deep, opaque purple-colored, with a tight but promising nose of truffles, licorice, underbrush, incense, and black fruits, this big, huge, dense, full-bodied Pomerol shows no compromising for readers looking for something immediately drinkable. As the French would say, a true vin de garde. This backstrapping, muscular wine is loaded, but patience is most definitely a virtue. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2022+.”