Clos Manou - Médoc 2020

Bettane & Desseauve

About the domain :

Françoise and Stéphane Dief's vineyards are in the commune of Saint-Christoly, and thanks to the most subtle vinification and ageing in wood, they extract the clos-manou, with the intention of producing a wine for ageing, very pure and of great stylistic perfection. For petit-manou, part of the harvest is now matured in seven-hectoliter concrete eggs. These are red wines deeply rooted in the Médoc terroir, with the structure necessary for ageing. The ambitious cuvée clos-manou demonstrates great expertise, but the second wine, petit-manou, is also well worth a visit.

Guide Hachette des vins

About the wine:

This renowned cru has once again distinguished itself with this very fine 2020, which has benefited from the utmost care and attention, with a complex ageing process combining barrel, concrete egg and dolia (earthenware jar). A deep color tending towards black, a greedy, tasty nose evoking chocolate, cloves, menthol and very ripe black fruits, the approach is engaging. What follows is equally profound: great density, volume, powerful yet mellow tannins, explosive fruit well blended with wood, a very long finish that brings back freshness and energy. A great Medoc for laying down. 2028-2038

About the domain :

In 1998, Stéphane Dief and his wife Françoise rented 12 ares to create their own vineyard. From purchases of individual plots to acquisitions of carefully selected petits crus, their property now extends over 17 hectares, with some very old vines, including a small parcel of pre-phylloxera Merlot planted in 1850. It has become a benchmark in the Médoc.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About the wine:

Clos Manou 2020 has revealed itself brilliantly. It unfurls aromas of dark berries, plum, spice and licorice in the glass. It's medium to full-bodied, with a deep core of vibrant fruit framed by soft, powdery tannins, and finishes with a long, violet-accented finish. Seamlessly constructed, this is a formidable example of haute-couture winemaking that would embarrass many a Crus Classés. 2025-2055

About the domain :

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About the wine:

All the latest vintages can be bought with confidence. The 2020 is one of them, if not THE most accomplished. A delicious, seductive and round wine, with all the charm of well-aged Merlot and silky tannins.

About the domain :

This small 18-hectare estate in the northern Médoc, in the commune of Saint-Christoly, is run with passion by Françoise and Stéphane Dief. Carefully tended vines and perfectly controlled vinification give the wines both charm and depth. A wonderful discovery away from the road of the grands crus classés, and a remarkable value for money.

Vinous

About the wine:

Clos Manou 2020 is opulent and flamboyant, just as it was en primeur. An explosion of black cherry jam, chocolate, new leather, spice and sweet oak saturates the palate. All the elements are so well balanced in an irresistible 2020, even now. 2024-2035

Yves Beck

About the wine:

As usual, Clos Manou reveals itself with subtlety. Stéphane Dief's eye for detail is unquestionable, yet every year the winemaker has to start from scratch, ask himself the right questions and approach the vintage with hindsight, while being attentive and responsive to its particularities. The 2020 is a talented balancing act that sails between maturity and freshness on the olfactory level. With its fine, powerful tannins, it has an acid structure that ensures temperament and freshness. The result is convincing on every level. What serenity, precision and persistence in this wine! 2027-2045

Jean-Marc Quarin

About the wine:

Intense, dark color. Very aromatic, pure nose, with fresh, ripe, finely creamy fruit. Meticulous on the entry, very tasty in the middle, with class in the touch, the wine melts away towards a long finish of coated and even perfumed tannicity. Very good indeed.