Drink now or cellar for up to 10 years. Decant 1 hour before serving.

With its first vintage in 2015 Clavis Orea is a relative newcomer in Saint Emilion, but the estate has already achieved international recognition. Named after the Latin word for “golden key” which is a traditional symbol of the hospitality industry, the estate was founded by Franck Jugelmann and Lahcene Boutouba who have used their family backgrounds as restaurateurs to create a wine with perfect gastronomic poise.

Jugelmann previously worked as a winemaker at Château Haut-Brion in the Médoc and the Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Classé estate Château Fonplégade, and after a chance meeting with Boutouba the duo decided to rent 8 hectares of vines to create their own wines. Their signature style expresses the beauty of Saint Emilion’s Merlot along with a dash of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc as is traditional in the region. The young wine is aged in oak barrels and neutral vats to showcase the local terroir and typicity of the varieties.

The result is an elegant and approachable Grand Cru which punches high above its pricetag thanks to the meticulous winemaking and precise structure and tannins which will help this bottling age gracefully over the next decade or so. Pair with hearty game or red meat dishes to match the intense dark fruit character and well-integrated oak influence.