Clos Saint-Martin

The estate

Clos Saint-Martin grew out of a walled enclosure on the limestone plateau beside the town, the Enclos de Saint-Martin. It has been a Grand Cru Classé from the first Saint-Émilion classification of 1955 through every revision since, in 1969, 1986, 1996, 2006, 2012 and in the list approved in September 2022, and has never been demoted. The Reiffers family gathered 3 classified growths here, Clos Saint-Martin, Château Côte de Baleau and Château Les Grandes Murailles, and Sophie Fourcade ran all 3. In March 2013 the Cuvelier family of Clos Fourtet bought Côte de Baleau and Les Grandes Murailles outright and took a share of Clos Saint-Martin, in which Sophie Fourcade remains the majority shareholder. Les Grandes Murailles, 2 hectares of limestone lying against Clos Fourtet, was absorbed into Clos Fourtet from the 2022 harvest, which leaves 2 of the 3 on the list.

The vineyard is 1.3 hectares of clay and limestone over the plateau, facing southwest, planted 80% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 1 of the smallest on the list. The grapes are picked by hand and the wine is made from start to finish in barrel and in terracotta jar, in new oak throughout, and raised 24 months. The estate yields about 40 hectoliters, some 5,000 bottles a year, and all of it is Clos Saint-Martin: with no second label, there is nowhere to put a lot that does not make the cut.

At a glance

Appellation

Saint-Émilion Grand Cru

Commune

Saint-Émilion, on the limestone plateau beside the town

Classification

Grand Cru Classé in every list from 1955 to 2022

Owners

Sophie Fourcade, majority shareholder; the Cuvelier family, of Clos Fourtet, since March 2013

Vineyard

1.3 hectares facing southwest

Ground

Clay and limestone over the plateau

Grapes

Merlot 80%, Cabernet Franc 15%, Cabernet Sauvignon 5%

Cellar

Picked by hand; made in barrel and terracotta jar; new oak throughout; 24 months

Production

About 40 hectoliters, some 5,000 bottles a year

Wines

Clos Saint-Martin; no second wine

The 3 growths of 2013

Clos Saint-Martin, Château Côte de Baleau and Château Les Grandes Murailles; Les Grandes Murailles taken into Clos Fourtet from the 2022 harvest

Sources: Association des Grands Crus Classés de Saint-Émilion, Clos Saint-Martin · Conseil des Vins de Saint-Émilion, Clos Saint-Martin · Château Côte de Baleau, the family estates · Institut National de l’Origine et de la Qualité, the Saint-Émilion classification of 2022 · La Revue du Vin de France, Les Grandes Murailles is taken into Clos Fourtet