La Closerie de Fourtet 2022

Expressive, spicy, violets, blood orange, chalky, cool, a hint of lactic note over crystal-clear fruit; crisp, fresh on the palate, already quite accessible, medium-bodied, pronounced, powdery tannins, spicy, red-fruited, fresh, long-lasting; will be enjoyable early but should not be underestimated in terms of ageing potential.

This delivers a pure, unadorned stream of dark cherry, cassis and violet notes, with a subtle whiff of black tea through the silky, lightly toasted finish. Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink now through 2033. 1,600 cases made.

Sage leaf, dried mint, some blackcurrant leaf and cherry aroma on the nose. Vibrant and electric, this screams with a bouncy, fresh palate—strawberry and cherry. I love the tang you get and the clear bite of graphite and flint, with the coolness making this an effortlessly enjoyable wine. Fragrant and full of personality. Not the longest, and a tiny bit austere and tight on the finish, but it’s clean and clear.

Berries and chocolate come through, together with terracotta and walnut character. It’s medium- to full-bodied with juicy fruit and a dusty-textured finish. Attractive red fruit and wet earth at the end. Drink after 2028.

The 2022 La Closerie de Fourtet is sublime. Elegant, perfumed and silky, the Closerie de Fourtet is pure seduction. The blend is 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, with the Franc very much driving the wine's balance. Medium in body and gracious, La Closerie represents the essential value of finesse in Bordeaux. It's a stellar second wine to drink now and over the next 15-20 years.

Silky, soft, and polished, this could compete with many Classified Growths in 2022. Medium-bodied, with vibrancy, supple characteristics, and freshness, the finish lingers with mildly salty cherries, spice, espresso, and cocoa on the back end. Forward and already open, this easy-to-drink charmer is ready to go. The wine comes from a parcel selection. Drink from 2025–2035.

Coming from more clay soils just across the road from the Clos, the 2022 La Closerie De Fourtet is 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc and was brought up mostly in once-used oak (20% new). It has a slightly dark profile in its aromatics, with ripe black cherries, smoky tobacco, spring flowers, crushed stone, and darker earth nuances. This carries to a medium to full-bodied, incredibly pure, seamless, elegant Saint-Emilion that has ultra-fine tannins and a great finish.

Sweet damson fruit, this has quite a different feel to both Clos Fourtet and Côte de Baleau, with denser black cherry and damson, smoked caramel, sandalwood and cedar, plump with supple tannins. 15% new oak, 2% amphora.

On the nose, pretty red and pink fruits, bright and shimmering, highlighted by a touch of white pepper. The small red fruits, both sweet and succulent, return on the palate, for a second wine that is fruity, satisfying, fresh, with the gentleness of chamomile.

Inviting fruity notes with aromas of strawberries and blueberries, complemented by a spicy touch. Creamy on the attack, the wine shows a fine balance between charm and vigor. Its fresh, velvety tannins provide solid support and pair with an acidity that is both structuring and refreshing. A mouthwatering wine to enjoy in its youth.

The second wine of Clos Fourtet, largely from a distant parcel from the main Clos Fourtet vineyard, next to Château Fonroque, and there is some young-vine fruit from Clos Fourtet as well. The blend is 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, and the élevage includes 20% new oak barrels, about 50% second-fill barrels, 28% third-fill and 2% in Vins et Terres amphorae. A fresh and vivacious aromatic profile, with dark chocolate, currant, rosehips and toast. The palate has a loose and light-footed style, with juicy dried currant and cranberry notes, with a light wrapping of tannin but rather confident acidity, before a delicately bitter end. Those tannins should keep it fresh for a few years, but this will be ready to go on or very soon after release. Charming.

Logo on the cork: JL (Lafitte Liège) Deep, intense, brilliant colour. Very aromatic nose with ripe fruit. Slightly reductive note. Needs swirling. It then becomes more intense and purer. Delicious from the first sip, supple as it develops, then fragrant on the mid-palate, the wine evolves delicately with precise, pure flavours through the finish. Very good.