It's possible, guest, as the growing medium could have frozen in the winter, and therefore killed your clematis. I'd check the stems near the top to see if they're all brittle first - if so, then buy a new one and plant it in the ground!

Clematis like to be planted deeply and the advice is always to plant them well down in the ground to avoid clematis wilt. I don't know this particular variety but I'd guess that being in a pot during the very cold winter it has succumbed to that as the root ball was probably frozen solid.
As with all such plants, don't give up until around July as many plants have amazing powers of recovery. But I wouldn't count on it.

Sorry Spritzhenry, I think I posted my reply simultaneously with yours, and have said virtually the same thing.

It was lucky we agreed, Bertie!!! :-)

I lost a well established Dr Rupple last year (obviously not that well established!!). Maybe it just gives up eventually? Physician heal thyself!!

Did it get wilt, Volunteer? My 'Vyvyan Pennell' seems to suffer every year. :-((

No, it just didn't come up in the spring. AWOL!!

Ooooohhhhh dear. :-((((( Mind you - imagine the frustration of seeing a fully-budded up Clem. collapsing before your eyes!

Thanks for the advice, I will leave it until July and see if anything happens!! In the future I will plant in the ground. I have learnt my lesson, trial and error!! :)

Most years you'd have got away with it, but this last winter was a bad one for potted plants.