CLOS FOURTET

Wonderful limestone character, walking the tightrope of tannins, acidity and fruit, remains pretty austere even after ageing, and this is one to put away for another six or seven years. Serious and concentrated, with creamy blueberry, raspberry and damson pueree appearing as it opens in the glass. 40 hl/ha yield. 18.5ha estate, that will increase in size as of the 2022 vintage due to incusion of neighbouring Les Grands Murailles. Stéphane Derencourt and Jean-Claude Berrouet consultants, Matthieu Cuvelier owner. Drinking range: 2028 - 2046 Rating: 97 Jane Anson, Decanter (Feb 2023)

The 2020 Clos Fourtet has a gorgeous, complex bouquet with ample red berry fruit, undergrowth, sage and hints of pencil box coming through with time. This is very classy. The palate is medium-bodied with pliant tannins, perfectly judged acidity and seamlessly integrated new oak. Backward at the moment, this will require a few years in bottle, but it will age with style and panache. Drinking range: 2028 - 2060 Rating: 95 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (Feb 2023)

Subtle aromas of orange peel, sweet tobacco and currants follow through to a medium body, fine tannin texture and a fresh finish. Extremely tight now, but persistent at the finish. Classy. Best of the triology. Drink after 2027. Rating: 97 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (Dec 2022)

Nicely rendered, this manages to belie the vintage's heat, with a focused and streamlined core of dark currant and blackberry fruit studded with licorice snap, violet, alder and tobacco notes along the way. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Drinking range: 2028 - 2040 Rating: 94 The Wine Spectator, www.winespectator.com (Dec 2022)

While there is seemingly a forest of oak standing in front of the fruit this is still a forcefully fruity and heady wine with both black fruit and also blueberry tones in the mix. There are plum and mulberry nuances, too, which add to the complexity, but much of this exuberance is shut down by the earthy tannins which swarm the palate and dry everything out. This will be a medium to long-term wine and the fruit is reeling from the battering it is taking from the oak, but the fruit will win through given time. Rating: 17.5+ Matthew Jukes www.matthewjukes.com (Jun 2021)

A wine of stature and breeding, the 2020 Clos Fourtet is absolutely breathtaking from barrel. A rush of lavender, graphite, spice, licorice and espresso hits the senses. Vibrant and powerful, yet also remarkably light on its feet, the 2020 has so much of offer. All the elements are so crisp, so beautifully defined. The 2020 is all class. It is one of the most promising wines of this young vintage and a fabulous effort from the Cuvelier family. Don't miss it. Drinking range: 2035 - 2060 Rating: 96-98 Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (Jun 2021)

The 2020 Clos Fourtet was picked September 15–30 at 40hl/ha and matured in 50% new oak. It has an expressive, winsome bouquet of red and blue fruit, crushed rose and iris, touches of blood orange coming through with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with svelte tannins and wonderful acidity. Harmonious and almost crystalline toward the finish. This is a very impressive Clos Fourtet that brims with freshness and persistence, gaining weight and depth over the course of an hour. It will battle the 2019 for supremacy. Drinking range: 2028 - 2060 Rating: 95-97 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (May 2021)

The 2020 Clos Fourtet is a blend of 90% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Cabernet Franc, harvested from 15th to 30th September and weighing in with an alcohol of 14.5% and a pH of 3.6. It is being aged for 14-18 months in 50% new oak barrels, 48% second-fill barrels and 2% amphora. Deep garnet-purple in color, it comes bounding out of the glass with ripe, expressive notes of crushed black plums, juicy black berries and black cherry preserves, followed by hints of ground cloves, cinnamon stick, camphor and cedar chest. The medium to full-bodied palate is jam-packed with bright, vivacious black fruits, framed by velvety tannins and bags of freshness, finishing with great length. Drinking range: 2027 - 2057 Rating: 96-98 Lisa Perrotti-Brown, RobertParker.com (May 2021)

Plush damson and blueberry on the nose, there is juice and a tightrope walking concentration of fruits. An excellent Clos Fourtet, with a juicy edge where the magic of limestone in dry summers is very much showing through. A yield of 40 hl/ha. 14 to 18 months ageing in underground limestone cellars. 2021 sees 20 years of the Cuvelier family at Clos Fourtet and this is an excellent wine to showcase what a brilliant job they have done here. Score could go higher after barrel ageing. Drinking range: 2028 - 2044 Rating: 96 Jane Anson, Decanter (May 2021)

Deep purple. Pretty heady, complex nose. Appetising palate. Round, ripe tannins lurking beneath some pretty sophisticated fruit. Finishes dry and spreads out on the very end like a peacock's tail. Much drier than most St-Émilions, with seriously interesting freshness Drinking range: 2027 - 2043 Rating: 17 Jancis Robinson OBE MW - www.JancisRobinson.com (Apr 2021)