Chateau Clos Fourtet - St Emilion Premier Grand Cru Classe 2020

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Chateau Clos Fourtet Description

Clos Fourtet / SAINT-ÉMILION GRAND CRU / PREMIER GRAND CRU CLASSÉ

Clos Fourtet has abundantly proved its standing as a Premier Grand Cru Classé, helped in this respect by hard work and major investments by the Cuvelier family, owners since 2001. Located atop the limestone plateau well-known for producing some of the greatest wines in Saint-Émilion, Clos Fourtet has one of the appellation’s best and most famous terroirs. The vines, located in a single block, a stone’s throw from the medieval village, grow atop impressive underground quarries. Winemaking is very traditional, but complemented by the most up-to-date techniques. The wine is extremely elegant and has a strong personality, with incomparable minerality.

Vinous: 98 Points

"The 2020 Clos Fourtet is a towering, statuesque beauty that captures all the personality and character of this site in a wine that marries vertical intensity, power and explosive energy. Black cherry, gravel, menthol, sage, crushed rocks and chocolate all soar out of the glass. This is a tremendous showing from the Cuvelier family."-Antonio Galloni

Jeb Dunnuck: 97+ Points

Much more closed and backward now from bottle, the 2020 Chateau Clos Fourtet is nevertheless a brilliant Saint-Emilion that ranks with the creme de la creme of the vintage. A blend of 90% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the rest Cabernet Franc, its deep purple hue is followed by an incredibly pure, classic Saint-Emilion bouquet of darker cherry and cassis-like fruit as well as chalky minerality, lead pencil shavings, and white flowers. Concentrated, full-bodied, and flawlessly balanced, it has perfectly integrated oak, an incredible sense of minerality, good acidity, and a great finish. It's going to need a solid decade of bottle age but will evolve for 30-40+ years in cold cellars. The Chateau deserves far more attention in the market today as they’re consistently producing some of the greatest wines in a vintage. Best After 2031. Rating: 97+

James Suckling: 97 Points

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.

Decanter: 96 Points

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. Barrel Sample: 96

Wine Enthusiast: 96 Points

This wine’s structure is massive. Serious tannins are matched with generous black fruits. Acidity gives a succulent character at the back of all this dense texture.

Wine Advocate

The 2020 Clos Fourtet offers up aromas of dark berries, plum preserves and pencil shavings framed by nicely integrated new oak. It is medium to full-bodied, with a rich core of ripe fruit that's framed by powdery, youthfully firm tannins that assert themselves on the finish. This limestone site always delivers low pHs, so the wine remains fresh and vibrant, even if its fruit flavors are marked by the warmth and sunshine of the vintage. Best After 2028