Clos Fourtet - Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2021

Jeb DUNNUCK

93-95

byJeb Dunnuckthe4/4/2024

Another terrific Saint-Emilion from the upper plateau, the 2021 Château Clos Fourtet is 90% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 3% Cabernet Franc that's pulled from 70% of the total production. The soils here include slightly more clay than its neighbor, Canon, and the wine is always a touch more powerful. The 2021 has 15% of the blend go through malolactic fermentation in barrel, and the élevage will span 16-18 months in 60% new oak. Dense purple-hued, with ample black fruits, roasted herbs, chocolate, and chalkiness, it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, a great mid-palate, ripe tannins, and one heck of a finish. It's an undeniable success that will shine in its youth yet also evolve gracefully. Tasted multiple times.

Vinous

94,5

byAntonio Gallonithe4/2/2024

The 2021 Clos Fourtet is a dark, imposing wine. Blackberry, gravel, scorched earth, leather, incense and clove infuse the 2021 with tons of character. This is definitely a wine from a cold year—a year lacking in sunshine. In that sense, Clos Fourtet is wo

Vinous

94,5

byAntonio Gallonithe2/28/2024

The 2021 Clos Fourtet is a dark, imposing wine. Blackberry, gravel, scorched earth, leather, incense and clove infuse the 2021 with tons of character. This is definitely a wine from a cold year—a year lacking in sunshine. In that sense, Clos Fourtet is wonderfully expressive, as it paints a very accurate portrait of a place and a growing season. All it needs is time to soften.

Wine Advocate

92

byWilliam Kelleythe2/22/2024

The 2021 Clos Fourtet opens in the glass with notes of dark berries, plums, spices and subtle hints of smoked meats and toasty oak. Medium-bodied, fleshy and ample, with powdery tannins that assert themselves on the gently structured finish, this remains a strong effort, but it doesn't quite deliver the depth and plenitude it seemed to en primeur.

Jamessuckling.com

95

byJames Sucklingthe2/22/2024

Lots of vibrant blue berries, black cherries, and violets followed by eucalyptus and vanilla beans with subtle black ink and stony mineral notes. Full-bodied, solid tannins with soft acidity. Wonderful frame and structure with density. Sophisticated. Try after 2026.

Wine Spectator

92

byJames Molesworththe2/22/2024

Shows a sleek, refined core of black cherry and cassis flavors, lined with lengthy but filigreed chalky threads and backed by an alluring whiff of black tea. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Drink now through 2036. 4,000 cases made, 500 cases imported.  –JM

Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux

94

byJane Ansonthe12/7/2023

Austere opening beats, with sculpted, savoury and understated black cherry and pomegrante fruits, subdued but with beautiful finesse and a slow build through the palate. Love the kick of oyster shell salinity on the finish, and the peony floral aromatics that keep you engaged. A reasonable yield of 40hl/h as its location again protected from frost. Clay-limestone soils. 50% new oak, 2% amphoras. The sheer class of this estate has come through more strongly after ageing, and this is a single point upscore.

matthewjukes.com

17,5

byMatthew Jukesthe8/2/2022

Clos Fourtet is always a fairly powerful and four-square creation, but this is a more sensual side to this estate, and I like the feel of the fruit and the brightness of the tannins. I rather like the dark chocolate and plum notes on the nose, and the fruit is plush and not troubled by the tannins either, making this a successful wine. The Merlot theme is pure and accurate, making it a sure-fire winner for the future. 17.5

Jamessuckling.com

93-94

byJames Sucklingthe6/8/2022

A polished and creamy red with bright currant, raspberry and clove character. Silky, supple tannins and fresh acidity. Excellent length.

Jeb DUNNUCK

93-95

byJeb Dunnuckthe6/2/2022

Another terrific Saint-Emilion from the upper plateau, the 2021 Château Clos Fourtet is 90% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Cabernet Franc that's pulled from 70% of the total production. The soils here include slightly more clay than its neighbor, Canon, and the wine is always a touch more powerful. The 2021 has 15% of the blend go through malolactic fermentation in barrel, and the élevage will span 16-18 months in 60% new oak. Dense purple-hued, with ample black fruits, roasted herbs, chocolate, and chalkiness, it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, a great mid-palate, ripe tannins, and one heck of a finish. It's an undeniable success that will shine in its youth yet also evolve gracefully. Tasted multiple times.

Bettane & Desseauve

95-96

by Bettane & Desseauvethe5/24/2022

Bouche précise au toucher pulpeux et ferme, jolie matière avec une profondeur stylée. Tout se joue sur la finale parfaitement en place.

The Vintage Journal

94-95

byAndrew Caillard MWthe5/17/2022

Deep crimson. Inky dark plum, praline aromas with herb garden/ sage notes. Well balanced wine with dark plum, blackberry fruits, fine slinky/ chocolaty textures and dukkah/ vanilla oak complexity. Finishes chalky firm and minerally. Very good density and torque. 90% merlot, 7% cabernet sauvignon, 3% cabernet franc. 14–18 months in 50% new & 48% second-year oak, 2% amphora. 13.5% alc

Alexandre Ma

93-95

byAlexandre Mathe5/16/2022

Clos Fourtet harmonizes its natural modesty and reservedness with the fresh and elegant style of this vintage. You may think Clos Fourtet 2021 is not that complex and shows high acidity at first. But if you focus on the tannic texture and the salty mineral notes on the finish, you will understand the “inner peace” and “modest elegance” always highlighted by Clos Fourtet. Clos Fourtet?????“?????”?2021??????????????????,???????Clos Fourtet??????????,??????????????????????????????????????,?????????“?????????”,???Clos Fourtet??????:“?????”?

Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux

93

byJane Ansonthe5/13/2022

Vinous

91-93

byNeal Martinthe5/12/2022

The 2021 Clos Fourtet was picked September 28 to October 15 and matured in 50% new oak. Around 20% of the vats underwent saignée. This has a powerful bouquet of dark cherries, red plum, mint and violets. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins. A less concentrated Clos Fourtet, even with the bleeding, but it retains balance and displays salinity and precision on the finish. This is promising, though it might be eclipsed by the 2019 and the 2020 in the long term. Still, I can see this maturing in style. (13.5% alcohol)

Vinous

94-96

byAntonio Gallonithe5/11/2022

The 2021 Clos Fourtet is very clearly one of the wines of the vintage on the Right Bank. Towering in its stature, the 2021 is a regal wine endowed with tremendous energy and vibrancy. This classically austere Saint-Émilion oozes class from the very first taste. Blue/purplish fruit, spice, lavender and menthol are some of the aromas and flavors that build into the resonant, deeply pitched finish. What a wine.

vvwine

95-97

byAdrian Van Velsenthe5/10/2022

Leuchtendes Rubinrot. Die Nase ist feinduftig und sehr komplex, reife, rote Beeren, Pflaumen und Brombeeren mischen sich mit floralen Aromen, darunter drückt das Kalkterroir durch, ein Gedicht. Im Gaumen präzis, klar und rein, die Frucht ist ungemein knackig, die Tannine von höchster Güte, der Wein umgarnt die Zunge wie ein Seidentuch, baut einen ordentlichen Druck auf, bleibt dabei elegant. Wie sein Nachbar Canon ein sehr gelungener Saint-Emilion, mit wie aus dem Stein gemeisselten Tanninen. 2025 bis 2050 (Verkostet im April 2022. UGCB/Dourthe/Daniel Vins)

Anthocyanes

94-96

byYohan Castaingthe5/6/2022

Élégant et frais, des notes de fruits noirs, de fleurs, d'épices et de réglisse pour un bouquet à peine marqué par le bois. Juteux, sur l'allonge, très calcaire avec une belle tension, notamment dans le milieu de bouche avec une structure moyennement dense, le toucher de bouche possède une charge tannique qui serre un peu en finale. Gageons que les élevages assagiront tout cela. Une belle bouteille en perspective.

Wine Advocate

93-95

byWilliam Kelleythe4/29/2022

A bend of 90% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Cabernet Franc, the 2021 Clos Fourtet offers up inviting aromas of wild berries and plums mingled with hints of black truffle, violets, potpourri and dark chocolate. Medium to full-bodied, supple and enveloping, it's lively and layered, with beautifully refined tannins, bright acids and a long, sapid finish. Harvest lasted until October 15, which shows in unusual depth and plenitude for the vintage. Tasted three times.

Decanter.com

93

byGeorgina Hindlethe4/1/2022

A little high toned initially, the fruit is bright with good acidity but lacks a little density with slightly astringent tannins. It's polished though, there is a nice clarity to the strawberry and red cherry fruit but is missing some weight on the mid-palate. Liquorice and crushed stone come in on the end showing the terroir in the glass. The tannins are fine and well integrated and support the black fruits, this is gentle and delicate. Perhaps less showy and forward than some but has a delicate and almost shy nature at the moment. A little bit harder to understand right now but this does feel well worked with refinement on show. It will be interesting to taste after ageing. Tasted three times. 3.6pH. A yield of 40hL/ha. 14-18 months ageing 50% new barrels, 48% second-fill barrels, 2% amphora.