Appellations

Clos Fourtet 2017

St Emilion, Premier Grand Cru Classé B

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Tasting Notes

The 2017 Clos Fourtet has a powerful, almost burly bouquet with upfront, quite bold blackberry, raspberry and strawberry fruit that maybe miss the precision of some of the appellation’s more elegant offerings. There is just a touch of cassis and violet that emerges with continued aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin, more rounded in texture than its peers. There is impressive volume towards the finish that is uncommon in this vintage, but you have to just stand back and admire its persistence.

Score: 92 - 94 Neal Martin, Vinous.com Maturity: 2023-2045 Date: 01 May 2018

The 2017 Clos Fourtet is very good, but also very tightly wound. Powerful and tannic, the 2017 is likely to require many years to come in its own. Today, the 2017 is certainly less charming than some recent vintages and other 2017 Saint-Émilions. There is certainly no lack of depth or concentration. The dark red/purplish berry fruit, rose petal and lavender flavors are very nicely delineated. Clos Fourtet is one of the wines that improved over the two weeks I followed it. I won't be surprised if it is even better from bottle.

Score: 92 - 95 Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com Date: 01 May 2018

Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2017 Clos Fourtet is scented of crème de cassis, blueberry compote and plum preserves with touches of hoisin, truffles and dark chocolate plus a waft of anise. Medium to full-bodied, the generous fruit is plushly textured with great freshness, finishing long and spicy.

Score: 92 - 94 Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Date: 27 April 2018

Black core with purple rim. Sweet and a little charry on the nose. A little less fruit on the palate than I expected from the aroma. Tannins are chalky but hold a firm grip and this needs time. But there's fruit at the core.

Score: 16 Julia Harding MW, JancisRobinson.com Maturity: 2024-2030 Date: 25 April 2018

This incredible terroir located just outside the village of Saint-Emilion has turned out a spectacular 2017 that has more richness and texture than most in the vintage. A rough blend of 86% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the rest Cabernet Franc, brought up in 60% new barrels, the 2017 Clos Fourtet offers a deep, saturated purple color to go with a huge nose of pure red and black fruits, bouquet garni, crushed rocks, and spice box. With medium to full-bodied richness, terrific sweetness and depth of fruit, ripe tannin, and a big finish, it’s a gem in the vintage and a no-brainer purchase. Tasted twice.

Score: 94 - 97 Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com Date: 23 April 2018

Intense, with blackberry, cassis and boysenberry puree notes racing through, inlaid with subtle anise and black tea details. Offers a gorgeous feel, with a long, fine-grained chalky spine buried on the finish. A beauty.

Score: 93 - 96 James Molesworth, Wine Spectator Date: 04 April 2018

A very sexy young wine with a solid center palate and refined, integrated tannins. Medium body. Everything is in the right place.

Score: 94 - 95 James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com Date: 03 April 2018

Good quality with depth of complexity and layers. An excellent Clos Fourtet that really lives up to the success of recent vintages, if not quite at the level of its 2015 and 2016. Damson, dark chocolate and saline notes are bolstered by extremely dark fruits that have the juice to carry them through the mid-palate, the oak supporting rather than overwhelming. There's a slight austerity and savoury edge to the fruit that speaks of 2017, but this is easily hitting the heights of St-Émilion in this vintage.

Score: 94 Jane Anson, Decanter.com Maturity: 2025-2038 Date: 01 April 2018