Clos ManouProducer from Bordeaux, France

Clos Manou: A Rising Star in Bordeaux’s Médoc

Clos Manou is one of the Médoc’s most exciting and under-the-radar estates, producing wines that challenge the boundaries of what is expected from the appellation. Founded in the late 1990s by Françoise and Stéphane Dief, the estate has built a cult-like following for its precision, power, and ability to rival classified growths at a fraction of the price. The Diefs’ approach—meticulous vineyard management, low yields, and a Burgundian-level attention to detail—has earned Clos Manou comparisons to Pomerol’s top garagiste producers.

Located in Saint-Christoly-Médoc, a lesser-known commune in the northern Médoc, Clos Manou started as a tiny 0.12-hectare plot. Over the years, the estate has expanded to closer to 18 hectares, with vines planted on a mix of deep gravel, limestone, and clay soils—terroirs traditionally associated with some of Bordeaux’s greatest wines. Unlike many in the Médoc, Clos Manou focuses on small-scale, high-quality production, often limiting yields to just 35 hectolitres per hectare to ensure concentration and balance in every vintage.

A Winemaking Philosophy Rooted in Precision

At Clos Manou, attention to detail is paramount. The vineyard is planted primarily to Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Petit Verdot, with a small proportion of old-vine Cabernet Franc. Many of the vines are over 100 years old, contributing to the incredible depth and complexity of the wines. Hand-harvesting, optical sorting, and gentle vinification allow for the purest expression of fruit, while minimal intervention in the cellar ensures the wines remain terroir-driven.

The estate embraces cutting-edge winemaking techniques, including fermentation in custom-built concrete vats and ageing in 100% new French oak barrels, as well as an experimental approach using amphorae and Stockinger Austrian oak to add further textural complexity. Clos Manou also integrates whole-cluster fermentation in select vintages, a technique more commonly seen in Burgundy and the Rhône Valley, lending extra structure and aromatic lift to the wines.

Clos Manou: The Wine

Clos Manou is a Bordeaux Supérieur that far exceeds its classification. Often mistaken in blind tastings for wines from top classified estates, it delivers a dense, richly textured style, with notes of blackcurrant, graphite, cigar box, and spice, alongside finely integrated tannins and remarkable freshness. Though built for long-term ageing, it also offers impressive approachability in its youth, particularly in recent vintages.

The wine has gained a dedicated following among Bordeaux enthusiasts and critics alike, often earning high praise for its balance, complexity, and value. While the Médoc is dominated by large-scale estates, Clos Manou operates more like a right-bank garage winery, with an obsessive focus on quality over quantity.

With its small production, precise winemaking, and outstanding consistency, Clos Manou has cemented itself as one of Bordeaux’s best-kept secrets. For those looking to explore a serious Médoc wine that punches well above its weight, Clos Manou is a must-try—a rising star that continues to redefine what is possible in this historic region.