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CLOS FOURTET

2016 1er Grand Cru Classé Saint Emilion

Grapes Cab Sauv, Cab Franc, Merlot
Colour Red
Origin France, Bordeaux
Sub-district Saint Emilion & Satellites
Village Saint Emilion
Classification 1er Grand Cru Classé
ABV 14%

90% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Cabernet Franc. Tasted at the property. Rich cool concentrated slightly smokey nose, dense with flavour, black fruit and coal tannins, then the mineral undertow from the limestone plateau. Tightly framed finish, very long with good acidity. Very Saint Emilion, very well done. At the UGC it showed an almost more attractive saline middle, staying nicely fresh. Drinking range: 2028 - 2045 Rating: 93-94 L&S (Apr 2017)


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The 2016 Clos-Fourtet has a glorious bouquet of copious blackberry, raspberry, mint and autumn leaf aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with firm tannins, a fine bead of acidity, good grip and a solid, dense but delineated finish that lingers. There is a sense of classicism pervading this Saint-Émilion, which has a long future ahead. Outstanding. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting. Drinking range: 2023 - 2048 Rating: 94+ Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (Aug 2020)

The 2016 Clos Fourtet is a blend of 90% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Cabernet Franc aged in 60% new oak. It has a generous, well defined licorice-tinged fruit that is very focused. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, blackberry and boysenberry fruit with that salted licorice theme continuing. This Clos Fourtet has impressive concentration, yet there is real elegance and persistence, fanning out wonderfully towards the finish. Mathieu Cuvelier has overseen another outstanding Clos Fourtet. Tasted twice, with a second bottle demonstrating a tad more backbone but equally admirable. Drinking range: 2023 - 2055 Rating: 95-97 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (Apr 2017)

Very sweet nose. Something a little dead about this sample. Not enough freshness. Smooth tannins but just a bit of lack of life on the mid palate. Obviously ambitious. I'd love to taste another sample. A saliva-sucker. Drinking range: 2023 - 2037 Rating: 16.5 Jancis Robinson OBE MW - www.JancisRobinson.com (Apr 2017)

Clos Fourtet

Guarding the westerly approaches to St Emilion village was a fort that became a château – Campfourtet renaming itself Fourtet sometime in the 19th Century. The 19.2 hectares are split between two main blocks, 14 hectares immediately around the buildings, and a further 5 about 400 metres away. Often spoken of as among the better estates in St Emilion, it has only really lived up its potential greatness in recent years under the tenure of the Cuvelier family, who purchased Clos Fourtet in 2001. These Cuveliers are not related to the Léoville Poyferré Cuveliers, and came from outside the world of wine - Philippe was running the Guilbert / Niceday office supplies company. His son Mathieu helps to run the properties. The Cuveliers own Château Poujeaux, in Moulis-en-Médoc, and subsequently bought Clos Fourtet’s neighbour Château Grandes Murailles, although they have resisted the temptation to merge the two together. The vineyards are 85% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and only 5% Cabernet Franc, with an average age of 30 years. There is a tendency toward organic/biodynamic viticulture, although full conversion is still some way off.

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