Clos Fourtet
Saint-Émilion Red Bordeaux Blend
St. Émilion, Libournais, Bordeaux, France
85 merlot/ 10 CabSauv/ 5 CabFranc
Pop and poured. Very pretty and elegant. Not a blockbuster vintage, but not a slacker in StEm. This Clos Fourtet isn’t flamboyant nor lean, but quite balanced. Deep ruby + purple in the glass, it looks as though it will be heavy and powerful, but it sports lots of potpurri, espresso, and inky black fruits aromatically all wrapped a delicate profile. Good weight on the palate. Very clean (zero Brett). This may lean slightly modern, but the tannin and herbal bite at the finish snap you back to France. Not surprisingly, the last glass was best. No rush here, but a quick dash of air opens the gates.
85 merlot/ 10 CabSauv/ 5 CabFranc
Pop and poured. Very pretty and elegant. Not a blockbuster vintage, but not a slacker in StEm. This Clos Fourtet isn’t flamboyant nor lean, but quite balanced. Deep ruby + purple in the glass, it looks as though it will be heavy and powerful, but it sports lots of potpurri, espresso, and inky black fruits aromatically all wrapped a delicate profile. Good weight on the palate. Very clean (zero Brett). This may lean slightly modern, but the tannin and herbal bite at the finish snap you back to France. Not surprisingly, the last glass was best. No rush here, but a quick dash of air opens the gates.
Blend of 90% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Cabernet Franc, aged for 16 months in 60% new French oak. Deep Ruby, purple edges, with aromas of black berry fruits, cedar and meaty smoky notes. On the palate flavors of baked plums and black currants with cacao and tobacco spice, on a well balanced frame. Fine dry tannins, long finish ending with fruit, earthy spice and cedar character. Nice!
Blend of 90% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Cabernet Franc, aged for 16 months in 60% new French oak. Deep Ruby, purple edges, with aromas of black berry fruits, cedar and meaty smoky notes. On the palate flavors of baked plums and black currants with cacao and tobacco spice, on a well balanced frame. Fine dry tannins, long finish ending with fruit, earthy spice and cedar character. Nice!
Feb 24th, 2024Blend of 90% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon & 3% Cabernet Franc, deep Ruby with aromas of dark fruit, smoke and floral notes. On the palate flavors of dark cherries, berries and licorice with herbs and floral tones. Fine tannins, long finish ending with fruit, cacao and earthy mineral character. Nice!
Blend of 90% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon & 3% Cabernet Franc, deep Ruby with aromas of dark fruit, smoke and floral notes. On the palate flavors of dark cherries, berries and licorice with herbs and floral tones. Fine tannins, long finish ending with fruit, cacao and earthy mineral character. Nice!
Oct 19th, 2023Blend of 90% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Cabernet Franc, deep Ruby with aromas of dark fruits, floral spice and cedar notes, aged 12 months in 60% new barrels. On the palate flavors of fresh blackberry, plum and black cherry with cacao, tobacco, licorice and spice. Fine grainy tannins, well balanced on long finish, ending with fruit, cedar and earthy mineral character. Very nice, will age well but wait a few more years to really enjoy!
Blend of 90% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Cabernet Franc, deep Ruby with aromas of dark fruits, floral spice and cedar notes, aged 12 months in 60% new barrels. On the palate flavors of fresh blackberry, plum and black cherry with cacao, tobacco, licorice and spice. Fine grainy tannins, well balanced on long finish, ending with fruit, cedar and earthy mineral character. Very nice, will age well but wait a few more years to really enjoy!
Oct 16th, 2023
The 2019 Clos Fourtet has a stubborn and backward bouquet with sultry black fruit, quite tertiary in style, antique bureau and woodbines. The palate is medium-bodied with succulent blackberry and blueberry fruit, maybe just a little cloying compared to its peers despite the velvety and caressing finish. One for those who like modern Saint-Émilion but it needs serious cellaring time. Tasted blind at the Southwold annual tasting. (Neal Martin, Vinous, February 2023)
The 2019 Clos Fourtet has a stubborn and backward bouquet with sultry black fruit, quite tertiary in style, antique bureau and woodbines. The palate is medium-bodied with succulent blackberry and blueberry fruit, maybe just a little cloying compared to its peers despite the velvety and caressing finish. One for those who like modern Saint-Émilion but it needs serious cellaring time. Tasted blind at the Southwold annual tasting. (Neal Martin, Vinous, February 2023)
Mar 7th, 2023
Dusty, full. It fills and coats the mouth and lingers for quite some time afterwards. Mushroom, compost, forest floor. Some leather quality to it, with a background note of baked black plum (like in a scone). There is a slight cinnamon or nutmeg quality in the aftertaste. It’s mild (can really notice it while breathing in air), but reminds you that it’s still here. Pair with pets for a Maremma Sheepdog.
Dusty, full. It fills and coats the mouth and lingers for quite some time afterwards. Mushroom, compost, forest floor. Some leather quality to it, with a background note of baked black plum (like in a scone). There is a slight cinnamon or nutmeg quality in the aftertaste. It’s mild (can really notice it while breathing in air), but reminds you that it’s still here. Pair with pets for a Maremma Sheepdog.
Dec 27th, 2022Blend of 90% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon & 3% Cabernet Franc, deep Ruby with aromas of dark fruit, smoke and floral notes. On the palate flavors of dark cherries, berries and licorice with herbs and floral tones. Fine tannins, long finish ending with fruit, cacao and earthy mineral character. Nice!
Blend of 90% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon & 3% Cabernet Franc, deep Ruby with aromas of dark fruit, smoke and floral notes. On the palate flavors of dark cherries, berries and licorice with herbs and floral tones. Fine tannins, long finish ending with fruit, cacao and earthy mineral character. Nice!
Oct 12th, 2022
Fully developed but with fruit and all the pepper garden
Fully developed but with fruit and all the pepper garden
Aug 6th, 2021
The 2005 Clos Fourtet is a dramatic, sweeping Saint-Émilion endowed with tremendous depth and unctuous intensity. Dark cherry, plum, cedar, tobacco and woodsmoke build as this rapturous, deeply textured wine shows off its allure. Silky, plush and wonderfully expressive, Clos Fourtet is fabulous in 2005. Bright saline notes, that are such a signature of Saint-Émilion's plateau, balance all of the natural richness of the year. Readers lucky enough to own it can look forward to another several decades of exceptional drinking. This is a superb effort from the Cuvelier family. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, April 2021)
The 2005 Clos Fourtet is a dramatic, sweeping Saint-Émilion endowed with tremendous depth and unctuous intensity. Dark cherry, plum, cedar, tobacco and woodsmoke build as this rapturous, deeply textured wine shows off its allure. Silky, plush and wonderfully expressive, Clos Fourtet is fabulous in 2005. Bright saline notes, that are such a signature of Saint-Émilion's plateau, balance all of the natural richness of the year. Readers lucky enough to own it can look forward to another several decades of exceptional drinking. This is a superb effort from the Cuvelier family. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, April 2021)