CLOS FOURTET 1er Grand Cru Classe, Saint-Emilion 2022 Bottle

Description

Château Clos Fourtet is a St. Emilion 1er Grand Cru Classé property located just outside the entrance to the town. It is distinguished by its beautiful ivy-covered manor house and some of the most extensive underground cellars in the region.

Clos Fourtet has had several owners over the years and underwent a mini-renaissance under the stewardship of the Lurtons in the latter half of the last century. Pierre Lurton was the winemaker who really established the property`s reputation as one of the finest on the St. Martin plateau. He left to become winemaker at Cheval Blanc and was replaced by Daniel Alard. In January 2001, Clos Fourtet was bought by Paris businessman Phillipe Cuvelier.

Clos Fourtet has 19 hectares of vineyards planted with Merlot (72%), Cabernet Franc (22%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (6%). The wine is vinified traditionally and is aged in oak barriques (60-70% new) for 18 months. It is bottled unfiltered.

VINOUS 97 points/100
Drinking window: 2030 - 2070
The 2022 Clos Fourtet was aged in 40% new oak, a decrease from the previous year, with a slightly shorter élevage. It has an exquisite bouquet with a mixture of red and black fruit scents, palpable mineralité and hints of crushed limestone percolating with time. This is so precise. The palate is very pure and tensile, framed by pliant tannins, a judicious touch of spice and a pixelated finish that is more elegant than any previous Clos Fourtet. What a fabulous Saint-Émilion from Mathieu Cuvelier and his team.
Neal Martin. Tasting date: January 2025

DECANTER 97 points/100
Drinking Window: 2025 - 2045
Gorgeous perfume on the nose, roses and violets, floral, expressive and so inviting. Sleek and straight from the start, the grip comes almost straight away - a crushed stone and graphite edge to the tannins giving cool freshness as well as bite. Feels suave and controlled, nothing too much or out of place. Refined and supremely elegant but still with a serious and dark core, it’s powerful and intense but that comes a few minutes after the playful juiciness and lively acidity settles. Complete and cool and puts you in St-Emilion on limestone with an inescapable and intense salty grip. Confident and supremely well made with a light touch. A yield of 36hl/ha. 3.54pH. Ageing 14-18 months; 40% new barrels, 58% second wine, 2% amphora, in underground cellars. Harvest 9 September - 27 September. - Georgina Hindle Apr 23

JAMES SUCKLING 97-98 Points/100
5 Apr, 2023 – This is broad and opulent with a full body and fine-grained, velvety tannins. Deep dark fruit, crushed violets and spices. Structured, layered and really long. Wow. So long and refined with great clarity.

THE WINE ADVOCATE (94 - 96) points/100
Now incorporating the vineyards of the former Grand Murailles, the 2022 Clos Fourtet is lovely, wafting from the glass with aromas of dark berries, plums, rose petals, orange zest and exotic spices. Medium to full-bodied, velvety and seamless, it's deep and complete, with a layered core of vibrant fruit and a long, saline finish. This is another terrific wine from this 19-hectare vineyard situated on the limestone plateau of Saint-Émilion, just outside the village. It's a blend of 90% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and 3% Cabernet Sauvignon. - William Kelley, 28th Apr 2023