Clos Fourtet

5/15/2017 Le Figaro - L LE FIGARO - L'AVIS DU VIN (CLUB VIN) : 18,5 / 20 Nez de fruits noirs, mûre, myrtilles. Bouche tonique, attaque franche, pleine de pep's, tannins ronds et enrobés, finale longue. 5/10/2017 Wein Wisser WEIN WISSER (RENÉ GABRIEL) : 18 / 20 5/3/2017 Bettane & Desseauve BETTANE & DESSEAUVE ( BETTANE & DESSEAUVE) : 97-98 / 100 Délicatesse raffinée confondante, tannin élégant, fraîcheur brillante, fruit frais précis, grande finesse. Le meilleur premier cru dégusté dans un ensemble pourtant fort réussi. 5/2/2017 Martin WINE ADVOCATE (NEAL MARTIN) : 95-97 / 100 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. 4/28/2017 Quarin JEAN-MARC QUARIN (JEAN-MARC QUARIN) : 18 / 20 Couleur sombre, intense, belle, aux reflets noirs. Nez intense, fin, fruité et mûr. Bouche particulièrement raffinée dès l’entrée, se développant moelleuse sur un fruité éclatant. Suave et fondant, le vin s’envole en finals, long, séveux et noble. Un délice. 4/26/2017 Vinous VINOUS (ANTONIO GALLONI) : 93-96 / 100 Vivid, creamy, ample and explosive in all of its dimensions, the 2016 Clos Fourtet maintains striking aromatic freshness and tension despite its intensity. All the elements fall into place effortlessly. The final blend is 88% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Cabernet Franc. The 2016 spent about four weeks on the skins. New oak is around 60 percent. This is a superb showing from an estate that has been on a roll. Tasted three times. 4/25/2017 Jukes MATTHEWJUKES.COM (MATTHEW JUKES) : 16,5 / 20 (90 Merlot, 8 Cabernet Sauvignon, 2 Cabernet Franc) | 60% new oak | 14% alc. On the extracted side of the fence, this is another very tough wine with more fruit than a few but no charm on its side. The tannins are blood raw. Tough stuff. 16.5+? 4/24/2017 Decanter.com DECANTER.COM (JANE ANSON) : 96 / 100 This showcases why Clos Fourtet is such a confident, powerful wine. It gets the balance right between the sappy, saline quality of its limestone terroir and yet reflects the ripeness and flashiness of Merlot that makes St-Émilion such a well loved appellation. Excellent, serious quality, cerebral but sexy. Drinking Window 2027 - 2050 4/21/2017 Robinson JANCIS ROBINSON (JANCIS ROBINSON) : 16,5 / 20 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. 4/19/2017 Wine Enthusiast WINE ENTHUSIAST (ROGER VOSS) : 95-97 / 100 Barrel Sample. This wine is full of ripe fruit, starting on the nose and following through to the structured palate. It's an imposing wine from an estate that seems at the top of its form. It should age well for many years. 4/10/2017 Wine Spectator WINE SPECTATOR (JAMES MOLESWORTH) : 96-99 / 100 Gorgeous from the get-go, with plum sauce, cassis and violet notes streaming through, showing ample richness yet relying more on cut, while anise, black tea and chalky mineral flavors persist on the finish. A beauty in the making.—J.M. 4/5/2017 Jamessuckling.com JAMESSUCKLING.COM (JAMES SUCKLING) : 96-97 / 100 This is a solid and structured 2016 with fabulous density and freshness. Full body yet vibrant and exciting. Wow. Fabulous tannins.