Le Presbytere de la Clariere Bordeaux Cabernet Sauvignon, France 2020

the sleepy village of Castillon, Château La Clarière is the most-awarded red. It’s Grand Vin (top wine) is a calling card for the region, and is every bit as good as many iconic Sant-Émilion reds costing 2-4 times more.

But in very special vintages, they craft an even better wine. It’s called Le Presbytère, and has only been made a handful of times. You can reserve the latest release, from the landmark 2020 vintage…but only 200 cases exist.

There’s a lot of talk about “single-vineyard” wines, but this is literally “single-row Bordeaux.” Over the years, the team has identified a few specific vines, in a few specific rows, that produce something extraordinary.

This rare micro-cuvée is aged 12 months, half in new French oak barriques, and the rest in a mixture of and half in clay amphorae (which adds to the complexity and texture).

The results are remarkable. It brims with with layers of red berries and cassis, with subtle notes of fresh cherry, blackberry and dark chocolate. While already delicious and complex, it will age with great grace, too.