Clos des Jacobins

Introduction

A name from a rich historical past, a promising appellation and youth at the helm... In short, Clos des Jacobins is simply an estate not to be missed! Located in the Saint-Emilion appellation, the property is now run by Magali and Thibaut Decoster, young Bordeaux people ambitious to make great wines.

History

To understand the passion around this estate, you have to go back several centuries. It is more precisely in the XIIIth century that one must go back in order to see the first traces of the vineyard. In the Bordeaux region during this period, the monastic order reigned over the vineyards and the properties. They developed the techniques of wine making and the cultivation of the vine. The Clos des Jacobins was already inhabited and produced a few vintages. If it is difficult to know if the property was considered qualitative, we can easily say that it has known how to cross the centuries.

Clos des Jacobins takes its name from the Dominican monks known as "jacobins" whose convent was attached to the church of Saint-Jacques in Paris. Living on the outskirts of Saint-Emilion, they welcomed pilgrims on their way to Santiago de Compostela. The vineyard was for them a consequent means of income...

After the French Revolution, the vines were no longer under the order of the churches but were bought by the bourgeoisie. The Clos des Jacobins was no exception and saw new owners settle. The estate will be a success in the 20th century, when it will be positioned as a Grand Cru Classé of Saint-Emilion (1955).

In 2001, Marionnaud acquired the property and sold it three years later to the Decoster family. Since then, the Clos des Jacobins has been recognized for its quality but also the vision of its new owners...

Youth at the helm

A youth that has made great decisions for the future of the Clos des Jacobins, located near the medieval city of Saint-Emilion. Thibault and Magali, who also own Château la Commanderie, have implemented projects to renovate and restructure the production tools. By modernizing the cellar as well as the winery, they are getting even closer to their goal: to amaze the wine world with the French art of living.

It is a vineyard of 8.5 hectares that they have at their disposal to elaborate about 45,000 bottles per year. Two key grape varieties for our protagonists: Merlot and Cabernet Franc. To get the best out of them, they take advantage of a clay-limestone soil and a climate with an oceanic influence.

In the vineyard, it is a commitment that has been made by the family, that of a reasoned agriculture. With a focus on sustainable development and the environment, the estate is actively replanting hedges near the vines, balancing the life of the soil with grassing or reducing treatments. All these actions allow the Clos des Jacobins to preserve the life of the soil but also the fauna and flora.

These commitments are felt in the vintages of the domain, the latter winning numerous awards in prestigious competitions, one of the most recent being that of the Grands Crus Classés de Saint-Emilion in Hong Kong in 2006 (finalist also in 2008). It is easy to understand why: the wines are made with great care. From manual harvesting to an 18-month aging in new barrels... The result is wines with a phenomenal complexity and finesse.