Clos Fourtet 2020

Nicely rendered, this manages to belie the vintage's heat, with a focused and streamlined core of dark currant and blackberry fruit studded with licorice snap, violet, alder and tobacco notes along the way. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2028 through 2040. 3,500 cases made, 500 cases imported.

Gorgeous violet and blackberry aromas presage a palate with tannins at first creamy and enveloping but then powerful and structured. In the famous 2018-2019-2020 trio, this vintage gets my nod for the best wet-stone raciness, even if it tastes almost like a barrel sample. A gorgeous minty freshness on the long finish. For current pricing, a steal. 3.6 pH.

Subtle aromas of orange peel, sweet tobacco and currants lead to a medium body, fine tannin texture and a fresh finish. Extremely tight now, but persistent on the finish. Classy. Best of the trilogy. Drink after 2027.

The 2020 Clos Fourtet is a towering, statuesque beauty that captures all the personality and character of this site in a wine that marries vertical intensity, power and explosive energy. Black cherry, gravel, menthol, sage, crushed rocks and chocolate all soar out of the glass. This is a tremendous showing from the Cuvelier family.

Scoring at the top of my range from my barrel scores, this is a majestic vintage for Clos Fourtet. With stunning levels of concentration, intensity, purity and sensuality, the wine paints your palate with layer after layer of black and red fruits. The velvet-drenched finish seals the deal with its seamless, mineral-driven finish that builds, lingers and expands. Drink from 2026-2060.

Deep dark ruby in colour with an opaque core, purple reflections, and subtle brightening on the rim. On the nose, a multi-faceted bouquet of inviting dark berry fruit, ripe plum, some liquorice, and delicate nougat. The juicy palate is complex, with taut tannins, good freshness, dark berry and cherry fruit and a saline finish. Still under developed at the moment, the wine is persistent and promises future ageing potential.

Complex bouquet of wild cherry, light tobacco, a delicate hint of graphite, and violet. On the tightly woven palate, a silky texture, captivating concentration of extract, balanced verve, and fine-meshed tannins—built and finely tuned. The concentrated finish shows dark-berry contours, profound terroir spice, truly great St. Émilion.

Kunz barrel sample 2021: a velvety, dense, opulent, fruity bouquet—strawberry jam, Damassine plums, currants, black pepper, dark chocolate, smoke. A powerful, velvety, full-bodied palate with good tannins, muscular structure, velvety, robust fruit, dark, full aromatics, and a long, delicately bitter finish.

Silky, dense, opulent, fruity bouquet: strawberry jam, damson plums, currants, black pepper, dark chocolate, smoke. Powerful, velvety, full-bodied palate with good tannins, muscular structure, silky, robust fruit, dark, full aromatics, long, finely bitter finish. 18/20 2026 - 2045

Wonderful limestone character, walking the tightrope of tannins, acidity and fruit, remains pretty austere even after ageing, and this is one to put away for another six or seven years. Serious and concentrated, with creamy blueberry, raspberry and damson purée appearing as it opens in the glass. 40 hl/ha yield. 18.5ha estate, that will increase in size as of the 2022 vintage due to inclusion of neighbouring Les Grands Murailles. Stéphane Derencourt and Jean-Claude Berrouet consultants, Matthieu Cuvelier owner.

Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2020 Clos Fourtet is a little closed to begin, starting off with cedar and crushed rocks notions before scents of black cherry compote, wild blueberries, and dark chocolate emerge, plus suggestions of violets and licorice. The full-bodied palate is packed with tightly wound, muscular black fruits, supported by ripe, fine-grained tannins and bold freshness, finishing long and mineral-laced. The blend is 90% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 3% Cabernet Franc.

97–98

Naturally still very young, this 2020 needs a few years to reach harmony. Yet it already embodies the pinnacle of Saint-Émilion. An admirable definition of aromas (ripe black fruits, chalk, etc.), with absolute brilliance, energizing a palate of inimitable silkiness, measured richness, and a deep, beautifully chalky length. It is primed for long aging (over thirty years).

A demonstrative, radiant nose with ripe, opulent black‑violet fruit, graced with the elegance of a black panther. A silky caress on the palate, a feather‑light texture: the panther’s paws barely touch the ground as it runs. A flavorful finish with notes of coffee bean and chocolate ganache.

Clos Fourtet gained in definition during its ageing. You can clearly sense the ambition of Mathieu Cuvelier and Emmanuel de Saint-Salvy to achieve even more precision, relevance, and brilliance in Clos Fourtet. The wine combines a suave touch with powerful tannins and a juicy structure. A strict yet creamy wine, deep and nevertheless airy—paradoxically so—Clos Fourtet strengthens its position as a 1er Cru… and in my opinion, once Grande Muraille is integrated, it will show its teeth a little… but with a smile! Clos Fourtet confirms its string of successes over the past few years. What admirable consistency and such a sense of freshness in 2020!

This wine's structure is massive. Serious tannins are matched with generous black fruits. Acidity gives a succulent character at the back of all this dense texture. It's a wine to age. Drink from 2028.