Chateau Clos Fourtet 2022

FALSTAFF: "Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, opaker Kern, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Attraktive schwarze Beerenfrucht, floral unterlegtes Cassis, etwas Lakritze, zart nach Mandarinenzesten, sehr einladendes Bukett. Kraftvoll, saftig und elegant, kühle Textur, reife, tragende Tannine, mineralisch-salzig im Abgang, finessenreich und sehr lange anhaftend, schokoladiger Nachhall, großes Reifepotenzial."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "With a dark, almost purple hue, the wine expresses flowers, licorice, smoke, black cherries, blue fruits, spice, salt and oyster shell. The fruits on the palate are long, rich, elegant, deep, and ripe. There is concentration, silky tannins, vibrancy, length and strong, mineral-influences on the mid-palate, and in the opulent, lively, long and intense finish. This is the first vintage where the parcels of Grandes Murailles were integrated into Clos Fourtet. The wine blends blending 90% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and 3% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14.5% ABV, 3.54 pH. The harvest took place, September 9 - September 27. Drink from 2027-2055."

JAMES SUCKLING: "This is broad and opulent with a full body and fine-grained, velvety tannins. Deep dark fruit, crushed violets and spices. Structured, layered and really long. Wow. So long and refined with great clarity."

DECANTER: "Gorgeous perfume on the nose, roses and violets, floral, expressive and so inviting. Sleek and straight from the start, the grip comes almost straight away - a crushed stone and graphite edge to the tannins giving cool freshness as well as bite. Feels suave and controlled, nothing too much or out of place. Refined and supremely elegant but still with a serious and dark core, it’s powerful and intense but that comes a few minutes after the playful juiciness and lively acidity settles. Complete and cool and puts you in St-Emilion on limestone with an inescapable and intense salty grip. Confident and supremely well made with a light touch. A yield of 36hl/ha. 3.54pH. Ageing 14-18 months; 40% new barrels, 58% second wine, 2% amphora, in underground cellars."

JEB DUNNUCK: "Harvested around the 9th of September and based on 90% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 3% Cabernet Franc (it also includes grapes from the discontinued Grandes Murailles bottling), the 2022 Château Clos Fourtet reveals a vivid purple hue as well as aromatics of black cherries, blackberries, white flowers, and crushed stone. A quintessential Saint-Emilion from the upper plateau, it has an incredible sense of minerality as well as full-bodied richness, ripe tannins, a vibrant sense of freshness, and a great finish. The 2020 was brought up in 40% new barrels, with the balance in once-used oak and a tiny portion in clay amphora. Tasted twice."

LISA PERROTTI-BROWN: „Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2022 Clos Fourtet comes barreling out of the glass with profound notes of ripe, juicy black plums, boysenberry preserves, and Morello cherries, followed by suggestions of lilacs, clove oil, crushed rocks, and wood smoke. The full-bodied palate is rich and concentrated, with densely laden black and blue fruit layers offset by a zippy backbone and firm, rounded tannins, finishing with great persistence."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "Now incorporating the vineyards of the former Grand Murailles, the 2022 Clos Fourtet is lovely, wafting from the glass with aromas of dark berries, plums, rose petals, orange zest and exotic spices. Medium to full-bodied, velvety and seamless, it's deep and complete, with a layered core of vibrant fruit and a long, saline finish. This is another terrific wine from this 19-hectare vineyard situated on the limestone plateau of Saint-Émilion, just outside the village. It's a blend of 90% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and 3% Cabernet Sauvignon."

WEINWISSER: "Betörendes Bouquet, frisch gepflückte Alpenheidelbeere, verführerische Veilchen, Graphit und Waldhimbeersaft. Am vielschichtigen Gaumen mit seidiger Textur, tänzerischer Rasse, engmaschigem Tanningerüst und durchtrainiertem Körper. Im konzentrierten schwarzbeerigen Finale dunkle Mineralik, edle Salznote und erhabene Adstringenz. 2030 – 2055."

JANCIS ROBINSON: "Deep crimson hue. Expressive red-fruit and mineral nose. Generous fruit backed by plentiful but refined tannins. Remarkably smooth texture but firms up and lingers on the finish. Terroir evident. One for the cellar."