Clos Fourtet - Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2010

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

94 / 100

par Stephen Tanzer le 26/09/2013

Full medium ruby. Initially a bit stunted on the nose, hinting at blackberry, blueberry, leather and mocha, this opened spectacularly with air to reveal scents of strawberry, flowers and forest floor. Sweet, highly concentrated and deep, with very dark blackberry and bitter chocolate flavors complicated by cabernet franc hints of fresh herbs and licorice. Impressively dense, broad and full, but still a bit youthfully chunky. Finishes with serious but ripe tannins and outstanding length. This extremely impressive wine will need patience. 94 (+?) points

Wine Spectator

95 / 100

par James Molesworth le 31/03/2013

Very winey, with a saturated, sappy feel as kirsch, blackberry preserves and blueberry coulis notes tumble around, while the frame of charcoal, smoldering tobacco and licorice root keeps them penned together. The tannin structure is significant, but very refined, and that should carry this through extended cellaring while the aromatics and midpalate develop harmony. Best from 2016 through 2030. –JM

Wine Advocate

98 / 100

par Robert Parker le 01/03/2013

The wine has an opaque blue/black color and abundant notes of forest floor, spring flowers, black raspberry and blueberry liqueur in the aromatics along with hints of espresso and white chocolate. The wine is dense, full, rich, unctuously textured and very full-bodied, with its extravagant glycerin, fruit and extract covering the wine’s somewhat tannic structure. This is a bigger, more restrained and structured wine than the outrageously flamboyant and prodigious 2009. Give it 5-8 years of cellaring and drink it over the following 30-40 years.

This property has been on fire, qualitatively speaking, for well over a decade. Another compelling effort from the Cuvelier family, the 2010 Clos Fourtet is a blend of 87% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Cabernet Franc that came in at 14.5% alcohol. Yields were modest at 31 hectoliters per hectare. The harvest was late, starting at the very end of September and not finishing until the beginning of the third week of October.

Wine Advocate

94 / 100

par Neal Martin le 14/02/2013

Tasted at the Union de Grand Cru in London. The Clos Fourtet has an intense, voluminous bouquet with dark plum, dried figs and sweet red berry fruit that beautifully encases the new oak. The palate is ripe, controlled and in my opinion, shows more control and precision than recent vintages...including the more opulent 2009. Yes, there is a sense of reserve to this 2010, but the terroir really shows through on the black truffle tinged finish. Superb. Tasted November 2012

Wine Advocate

95-97 / 100

par Robert Parker le 31/05/2011

2010: Although this superb 2010 is built differently, it is as impressive as the extravagant 2009 and the prodigious 2005. A blend of 85% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc made from yields of 31 hectoliters per hectare, with 14.5% natural alcohol, Stephane Derenoncourt is the consulting winemaker. One can not say enough about what proprietor Philippe Cuvelier has accomplished at Clos Fourtet over the last decade turning a perennial underachiever into one of the great wines of Bordeaux. Production from this 50-acre vineyard is nearly 4,000 cases. The inky/purple-hued 2010 displays a beautiful bouquet of incense, blueberry and blackberry liqueur, licorice and camphor. Full-bodied and opulent with more tannin and glycerin than the massive 2009, the 2010, while less sumptuous than the 2009, is a huge effort that is undoubtedly capable of lasting 30+ years. Drink 2011-2041

Wein Wisser

17 / 20

le 30/05/2011

Tiefes Purpur. Viel Kirschen im Nasenbild, noble Edelhölzer. Im Gaumen fordernd pointierter Säurebeginn, rote Kirschen, wirkt verdergründig und streng, satt im Extrakt, mit extrahiertem Touch. Wollte man zu viel oder ist's die Pontenzialanzeige? 2017-2030

Asian Palate

91-93 / 100

par Jeannie Cho Lee MW le 24/05/2011

This wine is all about fruit with a subtle background of tannins and acidity. A balanced wine with amazing concentration from a great vintage. Age this in your cellar for at least 10 years or more.

Le Point

17 / 20

par Jacques Dupont le 12/05/2011

Fruits noirs, moka, bouche ronde, fondue, tanins doux, vin élégant, de la matière et de la retenue, une finale réglissée un peu refermée. O=2018 G=20 ans

Jamessuckling.com

93-94 / 100

par James Suckling le 30/04/2011

A beautiful wine, with everything in the bottle. Blackberries, minerals and blueberries. Full and silky. Long, long finish

Decanter Magazine

18 / 20

par James Lawther MW le 30/04/2011

Outstanding effort. One of the best from this estate. Could be a great buy. Dense, round, perfumed fruit. Lovely texture and weight. Balancing freshness and long, persistent finish. Drink 2018-2040. (18 points)

Wine Spectator

92-95 / 100

par James Molesworth le 30/04/2011

Beautifully polished, with rounded enticing blueberry, raspberry and black cherry fruit that all glides through the spice-tinged finish. Suave and very long, with the structure already embedded. —J.M.

The Wine Cellar Insider

95-96 / 100

par Jeff Leve le 25/04/2011

Clos Fourtet With a clay and limestone terroir, the vineyards are located close to the center of the St. Emilion village abutting Chateau Beau-Sejour Becot. From an assemblage of 87% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc and 3% Cabernet Franc, the wine reached 14.5 alcohol. Intense aromas of jammy dark berries, black licorice, minerality and plum liqueur lead the way to a sexy, opulent and multi-layered Bordeaux wine with waves of sweet, rich, juicy fruit. The long finish ends with a mouthful of rich, licorice coated dark berries and cassis. 95-96 Pts

Jancis Robinson

17,5 / 20

par Jancis Robinson le 14/04/2011

Very dark, lustrous crimson. Very interesting and intriguing nose with, already, many layers. Toast, orange peel, lustrous sheen, something akin to coconut milk (but not the cheap sheen of too-obvious American oak). Very winning and engaging. Breadth and length. Dry but not drying finish. Very vital on the finish – and long too. Drink 2020-2034

Jean-Marc QUARIN

17,75 / 20

par Jean-Marc Quarin le 08/04/2011

Ma meilleure note donnée à ce cru en primeur.

Wine Enthusiast

94-96 / 100

par Roger Voss le 06/04/2011

Very dense wine, the dusty tannins floating through the black plum flavours. It's rich, concentrated, complex, with a great depth of flavour. This will always be powerful, while already balanced.-R.V.