{"title":"Château Clarke | Listrac-Médoc","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"View of Château Clarke winery buildings from the vineyards\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0106\/1539\/0266\/files\/Collection_Banner_440387e4-4c31-4587-ba6f-bd20cd205ed1.jpg?v=1661099507\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChâteau 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChâteau Clarke is to be found in the southern part of the Médoc within the Listrac-Médoc appellation. Its inland location is far from the Gironde estuary in the middle of the limestone plateau and a distinctive feature of the estate’s clay-limestone soil is its remarkable drought resistance. The proximity of the Atlantic Ocean gives a cool freshness that is echoed in the wine’s bright bouquet. Though Cabernet Sauvignon is traditionally king of the region, the Château’s terroir is very well suited to growing Merlot and this varietal accounts for 70% of the estate’s production. Thus, Château Clarke is typical of the Médoc, but in an entirely original way. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChâteau Clarke is one of the rare Médoc estates to produce a white wine. Le Merle Blanc is part of the Château’s heritage, because it has existed since the 19th century (1890). Much-appreciated and widely-known, this white wine once accounted for up to a quarter of the Château’s entire production. Sauvignon Blanc, Sauvignon Gris, Muscadelle and Sémillon, which are used in the Le Merle Blanc blend, occupy a small, three-hectare space for limited production.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eElegant, fine and dense, embodying the typical character of its terroir, Château Clarke is considered one of the most promising wines in the Médoc. Today's focus on excellence aims to bring out its full potential, both in the vineyard and in the cellar and to elevate Château Clarke to rank amongst the greatest Médoc wines.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"le-merle-blanc-de-chateau-clarke","title":"Le Merle Blanc de Château Clarke 2024","description":"\u003cp\u003eThere are very few Médoc estates that produce a white wine, which is why Le Merle Blanc de Château Clarke is as wonderful as it is rare, with just a few hundred cases produced annually. Le Merle Blanc de Château Clarke was first produced as early as 1890 and at the time, was one the most important products of Chateau Clarke. Sadly production of Le Merle Blanc decreased as the owners prioritised Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, with little care for white grape varieties. After acquiring Chateau Clarke in 1973, Baron Edmond Rothschild was keen to reinstate Le Merle Blanc and pay homage to this forgotten wine. A small part of the vineyard covering just 3ha was identified and planted with Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon, Muscadelle and Sauvignon Gris. Sixty per cent of the blend was matured in oak (50% new) and the rest in stainless steel tanks for six months. What emerges is bright and breezy with wonderful aromatics. Notes of crisp grapefruit, lemon sorbet, jasmine, lemongrass, peach, quince, acacia honey, delicate wood and a pinch of sea salt all combine in this gorgeous white Bordeaux, which manages to balance its ample richness with a crunchy freshness. This is very clever winemaking that brings together all the qualities you expect in a fine dry white wine. [#intro]A fine, dry white Médoc that is as wonderful as it is rare...[\/intro]\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Château Clarke","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":40150609199171,"sku":"A24LEMERLEBLANC","price":34.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0106\/1539\/0266\/files\/MerleBlanc24BT.jpg?v=1772642560"},{"product_id":"chateau-clarke-red-wine","title":"Château Clarke 2017","description":"\u003cp\u003eElegant, fine and dense, embodying the typical character of its terroir, Château Clarke is considered one of the most promising wines in the Médoc. Today’s focus on excellence aims to bring out its full potential, both in the vineyard and in the cellar and to elevate Château Clarke to rank among the greatest Médoc wines. A Merlot dominated blend alongside a portion of Cabernet Sauvignon, resulting in a wine that is structured and complex with a core of rustic red fruit and layers of earthy spice. The wine opens up wonderfully in the glass with juicy, plush and vibrant black cherry fruit flavours, and tannins that are fine and well balanced. The structural impact of the wine is matched perfectly by the cassis and bilberry fruits. [#intro]Savoury, complex \u0026amp; classically styled red considered one of the most promising wines in the Médoc...[\/intro]\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Château Clarke","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55760517005693,"sku":"A17CHATEAUCLARKE-1","price":37.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0106\/1539\/0266\/files\/Ch.ClarkeRedBT.jpg?v=1744531718"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0106\/1539\/0266\/collections\/Collection_Image_b5fa3425-0e45-4466-95ad-48957dd186c7.jpg?v=1661099594","url":"https:\/\/hic.wine\/collections\/chateau-clarke-listrac-medoc\/chateau-clarke.oembed","provider":"Hic!","version":"1.0","type":"link"}