Clos de l'Oratoire is a Bordeaux wine from the appellation Saint-Émilion, ranked Grand cru classé in the Classification of Saint-Émilion wine. The winery is located in the Right Bank of France’s Bordeaux wine region in the commune of Saint-Émilion, in the department Gironde.
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The estate dates back to the mid-19th century, created by the Beylot family, a firm of Libourne négociants.[1] Since its origin, this vineyard has been run in close conjunction with its larger neighbour, Peyraud which came to be Château Peyrau.[1][2] Identified as having the best parcels, Clos de l'Oratoire was separated from Peyrau, and by the 1969 reclassification of Saint-Émilion, Clos de l'Oratoire was ranked Grand Cru Classé.[1][2]
In 1972 shares were bought in the estates by Joseph-Hubert, Graf von Neipperg, and in 1991 passed control to his son Comte Stephan von Neipperg who bought the remaining 30% from the other investors.[3] Von Neipperg's other properties include Château Canon-la-Gaffelière and the "super-cuvée" La Mondotte.[2] The oenologist Stéphane Derenoncourt is retained as consultant.
The vineyard area extends 10.3 hectares with the grape varieties of 90% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. Of the Grand vin Clos de l'Oratoire there is a typically an annual production of 4,000 cases.[2]