Clos Fourtet - Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2006

Wine Advocate

93 / 100

byNeal Martinthe5/31/2016

Tasted at Bordeaux Index's annual 10-Year On tasting in London.The 2006 Clos Fourtet has a ripe, forward kirsch and iodine-scented bouquet, blueberries emerging time with just a faint touch of volatility that in some ways has become part of this Saint Emilion's character profile. You have to stand back and admire its bavura. The palate is maturing nicely, better than 2006 Troplong-Mondot with black cherries, blackcurrant, tar and Asian spices. This is nicely focused and shows superb freshness, a Saint Emilion that appears to have meliorated in bottle. Tasted January 2016.

Jancis Robinson

16.50 / 20

byJancis Robinsonthe1/27/2010

Toasty oak and rather reminiscent of some of the earlier St-Émilions. Fresh and lively fruit. Quite luscious black cherries at first but then it dried out uncomfortably on the finish. Drying end. But there is real vitality here. Drink 2015-2030

Decanter Magazine

16.75 / 20

the4/1/2009

Backward, with hints of red and black berries. Discreet, balanced, restrained. Not a blockbuster, not gregarious, but with a calm confidence. From 2012.

Wine Advocate

91 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe2/1/2009

A blend of 80% Merlot and the rest equally split between Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, this wine has a dense purple color and a beautifully sweet nose of blackberry and blueberry fruits intermixed with acacia flowers, charcoal, and some subtle oak. The wine is nicely textured, medium-bodied, and very concentrated for a 2006 St.-Emilion, with a certain degree of opulence and sucrosite. This is a beauty, with moderate tannins in the finish. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2027. If you haven’t gotten on the Clos Fourtet bandwagon, now is the time, as demand will certainly increase. After the prodigious 2005 and 2003, it is more difficult to get excited over what proprietor Philippe Cuvelier and his brilliant vineyard manager Tony Ballu, the producer of Pierre La Lune, have done, but this is a very strong effort. About 3,000 cases are made from this picture-postcard, fabulous vineyard on the deep limestone plateau just adjacent to the walls as well as the town of St.-Emilion.

Decanter Magazine

16 / 20

the6/30/2007

Core of dark fruit but without the volume of a grand vin. Firm, even robust annic structure. Lacks a touch of elegance. 2015-25

La Revue du Vin de France

16-17 / 20

the6/27/2007

Vinifié sur l'élégance et la finesse, avec un bouche tendre. Une constitution moyenne pour ce vin dont la finale est élégante et déjà très polie. Il manque juste un peu de chair en milieu de bouche.

Le Point

16 / 20

byJacques Dupontthe5/24/2007

Fruits noirs, biscuit, bouche vive, élégante, pass très garne mais joli fruit, frais, fin, délicat, petits tanins ronds, beaucoup de matière, boisé un peu prenant, poivré.

Falstaff

86-88 / 100

the5/23/2007

Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, jugendliche Reflexe, violetter Rand. In der Nase eher verhalten, dunkles Beerenkonfit. Am Gaumen mineralisch, wirkt etwas weitmaschig, eher spröde Tannine, zarte Kirsche im Nachhall, etwas trocken.

Wein Wisser

17 / 20

byRené Gabrielthe5/7/2007

2014-2028

Wine Advocate

90-93 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe5/3/2007

Clos Fourtet has produced a succession of brilliant wines since 2003. While the 2006 may not equal the prodigious 2005, it possesses a dark ruby/purple hue as well as sweet notes of creme de cassis, spring flowers, new oak, and a steely/mineral-like nuance in the background. Attractive, plump, opulent fruit on the palate is followed by a slight narrowing, but the finish is strong, with moderate tannin. Consume this beauty between 2008-2016.

Wine Advocate

88-9 / 100

byNeal Martinthe5/1/2007

Tasted privately with a negotiant. There is some greenness on the nose here and lacking some definition. The palate is full-bodied with a lot of extraction. Muscular, sinewy, lacking some grace although the fruit is pure, clean but smothered in new oak. Persistent finish. Just a bit forced for me.

TAST

16 / 20

the4/30/2007

Riche en couleur, un peu réduit au nez, puissant, avec des notes de chocolat un peu lourdes mais savoureuses, charnu, velouté, raisin bien mûr, un peu moins de complexité dans les sensations que chez d’autres !

Vinum

16 / 20

the4/30/2007

Dicht, kräftog, kompakt, etwas herbes, kantiges, holzgeprägtes Finale. 2014 bis 2020

Jancis Robinson

17 / 20

byJancis Robinsonthe4/18/2007

Healthy glowing purple. Fresh, clean, supple nose. Quite a bit of charm – very relaxed. Very sappy and somehow this wine avoids those rasping tannins. Maybe not for the very long term but well done! Rather easy but at least it’s not overextracted. Clean finish, and actually surprisingly long.