Freddy R. Troya

9.6

Clos Fourtet 2023 – Saint-Émilion Grand Cru, 1er Grand Cru Classé. BDX, France 🇫🇷

Overview
A profoundly complete and multi-layered Saint-Émilion delivering depth, finesse, and seamless balance, driven by a 86% Merlot-dominant blend with 8% Cabernet Franc and 6% Cabernet Sauvignon support. The wine unfolds progressively in the glass, revealing complexity and polish without heaviness, combining power with docility and precision in a remarkably composed expression.

Aromas & Flavors
Black cherry compote, ripe blackberry, plum reduction, crushed limestone, violet petals, dark cocoa, subtle espresso, sweet spice, graphite and gentle herbal lift.

Mouthfeel
Medium-plus to full-bodied with a silky, luscious texture, ultra-fine tannins, beautifully integrated acidity, layered mid-palate density, and a long, velvety finish that glides effortlessly while continuing to evolve.

Food Pairings
Prime rib, dry-aged ribeye, duck breast with cherry reduction, truffle risotto, mushroom bourguignon, aged Comté or Parmigiano-Reggiano.

Verdict
An elite-level Clos Fourtet showing precision, complexity, and harmony at a very high register. It delivers both immediate pleasure and serious aging potential, balancing richness with clarity and refinement. A reference-point Saint-Émilion for the vintage.

🍷 Personal Pick
This is my kind of wine, layered, progressive, luxurious yet disciplined, and dangerously easy to drink. Silky, luscious, and perfectly balanced, it feels like a bottle that disappears far too quickly because every sip invites the next. My stamp. No pit stop needed, full throttle to the checkered flag. A simplified winner 🏆 — 15 days ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Opened several hours prior to service, the 2007 pours a deep, ruby/purple color with an opaque core; medium+ viscosity with light staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of ripe and desiccated bramble berries, strawberry, dried red flowers, garrigue, anise, leather, dried herbs and stony earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. This is anything but tired and far from overblown. I’ve been surprised by a number of 2007 CdP’s lately. They have showed better balance than I expected and this one is wonderfully balanced. Drink now through 2037. — a month ago

John Van Trijp

9.9

Weekend with Friends and average wines…😎 3 digits in future — a month ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.4

2003 vintage. Opened (not decanted) and tasted after 1 hour and 3 hours. Perfect cork and fill. Immediate, perfumed nose upon the open as it couldn't wait to escape. Light-medium/medium body. A quiet, simmering intensity throughout. First tastes invited the pretty, berry flavors. Last tastes emphasized delicate tea and earth influences. Feel like another 5-spot might just find it tickling the top of the bell curve. Still climbing currently. 1.23.26. — 14 days ago

Pooneet K

9.3

Absolutely lovely. Opened 90 mins before and didn’t decant, don’t think it needed it. Finish really may be 1min+. This is drinking meaningfully more advanced than the 1999 that we had a number of months ago - so, drink up, but enjoy. Incredible precision of fruit and earth and excellent acid. Paired with simple chicken thighs crisped and the fat rendered down in a pan and then a pan sauce with shallot, garlic, thyme, and lemon. Delicious. — 5 days ago

Mark Rosse

9.0

Bottle seems too advanced. Color more like a 10 year old wine. Unmoved — 17 days ago

GaryWEdwards

9.4

Silky cherry with tannins nicely integrated . Showing well. Finally! — 3 days ago

Michael Dierberg

9.4

Don’t open it yet! Took 11 hours to open up! But all signs point in the right direction. — 5 days ago

with JiaMin

Gilbert Van Hassel

9.5

Silky glorious — 22 days ago

Scott Kahn

9.2

Arguably the best chenin I’ve ever had! Good minerality and acidity - with citrus and pear but not the typical “apples all ways” so typical of the varietal. — a month ago

with RC