Clos Badon Thunevin St. Emilion Bordeaux, Complete Guide

Learn everything about Clos Badon Thunevin St. Emilion with wine tasting notes and wine with food pairing tips. Learn the best vintages, a history of the property, information on the vineyards and winemaking. If you want to read about other important, Bordeaux Chateaux: Links to all Bordeaux Wine Producer Profiles

Clos Badon Thunevin History, Overview

Originally known as Clos Badon, the owner, Philippe Dugos sold the vineyard in 1998 to Jean Luc Thunevin and Murielle Andraud. They bought the vineyard after another Saint Emilion property they were looking at, Chateau Cadet Bon, was sold to the owners of Chateau Canon. Following the purchase of the property they rebranded the estate Clos Badon Thunevin.

The logo or label of a Bordeaux wine bottle can tell you a lot about the wine, and its owner. Clos Badon Thunevin uses the image of a chicken on the label of Clos Badon because the owners, Jean-Luc Thunevin and Murielle Andraud raise, beautiful, exotic, Chinese chickens as pets.

These rare breeds of chickens are often seen, leisurely strolling in the gardens of the home of Jean Luc Thunevin and Murielle Andraud.

Interestingly, for years Jean Luc Thunevin and Murielle Andraud also had a huge German Shepard dog named Max living with them in their St. Emilion home. Max liked the chickens too! When asked how their chickens live such a long life, Murielle says, “The only Bordeaux wine they drink is Valandraud!” Those chickens have good taste, even if they prefer Valandraud over Clos Badon Thunevin.

The vineyards of Clos Badon Thunevin are situated between the vines of Pavie and Larcis Ducasse, so as you can see, they have some very good neighbors.

The parcels are located across the street from Chateau Pavie, on the flatlands, that looks up at the plateau.

The wines of Clos Badon Thunevin are made by the same team that is in charge of the winemaking at Valandraud. Since 2007, Murielle Andraud has been in charge calling the shots for this likable, ripe, fun to drink, fairly priced, Saint Emilion wine.

Clos Badon Thunevin Vineyards, Terroir, Grapes, Winemaking

The 6.5 hectare Right Bank vineyard of Clos Badon Thunevin is planted to 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc. All of the Cabernet Sauvignon vines have been removed from the vineyard. The terroir is sand, gravel, quartz, clay, and limestone soils.

The vineyards of Clos Badon Thunevin are planted to a vine density of 5,500 vines per hectare. On average, the vines of Clos Badon Thunevin are close to a respectable 30 years of age. But they have older vines as well. Some of which were planted as far back as 1954.

To produce the wine of Clos Badon Thunevin, vinification takes place in large oak vats. Malolactic fermentation takes place in 100% new, French oak barrels. The wine is then aged in 100% new, French oak barrels for between 18 to 20 months before bottling. The production is small. On average, about 2 400 cases of Clos Badon Thunevin are produced per year.

The best vintages of Clos Badon Thunevin are: 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2012, 2010, 2009 and 2005.

When to Drink Clos Badon Thunevin, Anticipated Maturity, Decanting Time

Clos Badon Thunevin is usually better with 2-4 years of bottle age. Of course, that can vary slightly, depending on the vintage. Clos Badon Thunevin is usually best enjoyed in the first 4-12 years of life.

Young vintages can be decanted for up to 1 hour or so. This allows the wine to soften and open its perfume. Older vintages might need very little decanting, just enough to remove the sediment.

Serving Clos Badon Thunevin with Wine and Food Pairings

Clos Badon Thunevin is best served at 15.5 degrees Celsius, 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The cool, almost cellar temperature gives the wine more freshness and lift.

Clos Badon Thunevin is best paired with all types of classic meat dishes, veal, pork, beef, lamb, duck, game, roast chicken, roasted, braised, and grilled dishes. Clos Badon is also good when matched with Asian dishes, rich fish courses like tuna, mushrooms, and pasta, and a diverse array of hard and soft cheese.

www.thunevin.com

Clos Badon Thunevin Wine Tasting Notes

17 Vintages 44,795 Views Sort by Vintage-Rating

2022
93
The first vintage as a Classified Growth does not disappoint. With a deep color, the elegant, lush, silky-textured wine is soft, polished and packed with layers of chocolate, black plums, licorice, black cherries and just a hint of espresso. The palate is loaded with sweet, black fruits, lift, and energy, leaving you with spice, dark chocolate, plums and cherries on the backend. The wine blends 65% Merlot with 35% Cabernet Franc. 15% ABV, 3.8 pH. Drink from 2025-2038. 92-94 Pts.

The first vintage as a Classified Growth does not disappoint. With a deep color, the elegant, lush, silky-textured wine is soft, polished and packed with layers of chocolate, black plums, licorice, black cherries and just a hint of espresso. The palate is loaded with sweet, black fruits, lift, and energy, leaving you with spice, dark chocolate, plums and cherries on the backend. The wine blends 65% Merlot with 35% Cabernet Franc. 15% ABV, 3.8 pH. Drink from 2025-2038. 92-94 Pts.

2,143 Views   Tasted
2021
91
Flowers, chocolate, espresso and red fruits are easily found on the nose. The palate is polished, fresh, vibrant, medium-bodied, earthy and spicy, with a judicious touch of cocoa to accompany the red fruits in the finish. You can enjoy this on release. The wine blends 75% Merlot with 25% Cabernet Franc, 13.5% ABV. Drink from 2024-2035.

Flowers, chocolate, espresso and red fruits are easily found on the nose. The palate is polished, fresh, vibrant, medium-bodied, earthy and spicy, with a judicious touch of cocoa to accompany the red fruits in the finish. You can enjoy this on release. The wine blends 75% Merlot with 25% Cabernet Franc, 13.5% ABV. Drink from 2024-2035.

176 Views   Tasted
Sweet, juicy, fresh, savory, salty-edged plums with a touch of spice, spearmint, flowers and cherries are easily found on the nose and in the vibrant, soft, polished, medium-bodied, red pit fruit filled palate. You can enjoy this on release. The wine blends 75% Merlot with 25% Cabernet Franc, 13.5% ABV. Drink from 2023-2037. 89-91

Sweet, juicy, fresh, savory, salty-edged plums with a touch of spice, spearmint, flowers and cherries are easily found on the nose and in the vibrant, soft, polished, medium-bodied, red pit fruit filled palate. You can enjoy this on release. The wine blends 75% Merlot with 25% Cabernet Franc, 13.5% ABV. Drink from 2023-2037. 89-91

1,663 Views   Tasted
2020
92
A nice shot of licorice-laced espresso and ripe, deep plums is the first thing you notice before enjoying all the ripe, mineral driven, sweet, supple-textured, polished dark red fruits on the palate and in the vibrant finish. 91-93 Pts

A nice shot of licorice-laced espresso and ripe, deep plums is the first thing you notice before enjoying all the ripe, mineral driven, sweet, supple-textured, polished dark red fruits on the palate and in the vibrant finish. 91-93 Pts

2,414 Views   Tasted
2019
92
Earthy, with nuances of flowers, espresso, smoke and dark ripe plums, the wine is round, lush and generous on the palate. The fruit, licorice and coffee bean-filled finish tops everything off nicely. 91-93 Pts

Earthy, with nuances of flowers, espresso, smoke and dark ripe plums, the wine is round, lush and generous on the palate. The fruit, licorice and coffee bean-filled finish tops everything off nicely. 91-93 Pts

3,126 Views   Tasted
2018
90
Medium-bodied, soft, silky and fresh, the red fruits offer sweetness and purity. Medium-bodied, forward and ready to go, this is already delicious.

Medium-bodied, soft, silky and fresh, the red fruits offer sweetness and purity. Medium-bodied, forward and ready to go, this is already delicious.

2,622 Views   Tasted
Licorice, smoke and wet earth with ripe dark plums on the nose and a blast of black cherry, licorice and dark mocha on the palate work perfectly here. The wine needs only a few years in the bottle before it all comes together. 90-92 Pts

Licorice, smoke and wet earth with ripe dark plums on the nose and a blast of black cherry, licorice and dark mocha on the palate work perfectly here. The wine needs only a few years in the bottle before it all comes together. 90-92 Pts

2,995 Views   Tasted
2017
90
Smoke, earth and licorice with dark red fruits, deep color and a round, red plum finish is what you will find here. A couple years in the cellar should add more softness and complexity to the wine.

Smoke, earth and licorice with dark red fruits, deep color and a round, red plum finish is what you will find here. A couple years in the cellar should add more softness and complexity to the wine.

1,516 Views   Tasted
2016
92
With a smoky accent, the licorice, dark red fruits, espresso and earthy nuances come through with ease. The wine is Medium/full bodied with soft tannins. It is forward, so this is perfect to enjoy on the young side. However, if you have just a little patience, there is some tannin to resolve, so yu can give it a few years in the cellar.

With a smoky accent, the licorice, dark red fruits, espresso and earthy nuances come through with ease. The wine is Medium/full bodied with soft tannins. It is forward, so this is perfect to enjoy on the young side. However, if you have just a little patience, there is some tannin to resolve, so yu can give it a few years in the cellar.

2,421 Views   Tasted
Medium/full bodied with polished tannins, ripe sweet fruit, wet earth, licorice and a juicy, energetic fruit finish, this wine will drink well early or offer more nuance with age.

Medium/full bodied with polished tannins, ripe sweet fruit, wet earth, licorice and a juicy, energetic fruit finish, this wine will drink well early or offer more nuance with age.

1,850 Views   Tasted
2015
92
This is the best ever Clos Badon. Licorice, blackberry, smoke and earthy character move in quickly, illuminating this deep ruby beauty. Round on the palate, the wine has a fresh, plump quality of fruit that really works this year.

This is the best ever Clos Badon. Licorice, blackberry, smoke and earthy character move in quickly, illuminating this deep ruby beauty. Round on the palate, the wine has a fresh, plump quality of fruit that really works this year.

2,150 Views   Tasted
2014
89
Earthy, lush black cherries with a fleshy, sweet, licorice and cocoa finish. 88-90 Pts

Earthy, lush black cherries with a fleshy, sweet, licorice and cocoa finish. 88-90 Pts

2,027 Views   Tasted
2013
88
From 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, the wine reached 13.5% ABV and offers notes of vanilla bean and dark cherry, an open personality and a sweet, tart and plummy finish. 87-89 Pts

From 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, the wine reached 13.5% ABV and offers notes of vanilla bean and dark cherry, an open personality and a sweet, tart and plummy finish. 87-89 Pts

1,523 Views   Tasted
2012
88
Showing depth of color, the wine is earthy with dark berries and a wild strawberry and dark chocolate finish. 87-89 Pts

Showing depth of color, the wine is earthy with dark berries and a wild strawberry and dark chocolate finish. 87-89 Pts

1,622 Views   Tasted
2011
89
90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc create the blend. The wine reached 13.5% ABV and will be aged in 100% new oak. Deep in color with oak, toast, vanilla, jammy blackberry and earth in the nose. The wine is polished, lush and round, but there is a bit too much oak in the supple-textured finish that still needs to come together. 88-90 Pts

90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc create the blend. The wine reached 13.5% ABV and will be aged in 100% new oak. Deep in color with oak, toast, vanilla, jammy blackberry and earth in the nose. The wine is polished, lush and round, but there is a bit too much oak in the supple-textured finish that still needs to come together. 88-90 Pts

1,664 Views   Tasted
2010
89
Clos Badon Thunevin From almost 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, the wine offers scents of licorice, jammy dark berries and oak ending in a soft, sweet, fennel and blackberry finish. 88-90 Pts

Clos Badon Thunevin From almost 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, the wine offers scents of licorice, jammy dark berries and oak ending in a soft, sweet, fennel and blackberry finish. 88-90 Pts

3,188 Views   Tasted
2009
90
2009 Clos Badon - This rich, round, ripe St. Emilion wine is filled with licorice, blackberry and chocolate covered cherries. This should deliver a lot of pleasure young. 90 Pts

2009 Clos Badon - This rich, round, ripe St. Emilion wine is filled with licorice, blackberry and chocolate covered cherries. This should deliver a lot of pleasure young. 90 Pts

3,292 Views   Tasted
2008
90
08 Clos Badon Thunevin shows deep ruby color. The wine delivers a lot of fresh black raspberry and licorice in the nose. More concentrated than previous vintages, and styled for early drinking, the wine proffers a lot of pleasure. 90-92 Pts

08 Clos Badon Thunevin shows deep ruby color. The wine delivers a lot of fresh black raspberry and licorice in the nose. More concentrated than previous vintages, and styled for early drinking, the wine proffers a lot of pleasure. 90-92 Pts

2,217 Views   Tasted
2006
90
At close to peak, this medium bodied wine delivers that elusive combination of ripe, sweet fruits, freshness, soft, elegant textures and a sweet, balanced, earthy, dark cherry and coffee bean filled finish.

At close to peak, this medium bodied wine delivers that elusive combination of ripe, sweet fruits, freshness, soft, elegant textures and a sweet, balanced, earthy, dark cherry and coffee bean filled finish.

2,031 Views   Tasted
2005
90
Already open and accessible, licorice, coffee, black cherry, cocoa and spicy aromas play well the sensuous textures and rich, chocolate covered cherry, fennel and blackberry finish.

Already open and accessible, licorice, coffee, black cherry, cocoa and spicy aromas play well the sensuous textures and rich, chocolate covered cherry, fennel and blackberry finish.

4,155 Views   Tasted