2005 - Clos Fourtet, Saint-Emilion

The 2005 Clos Fourtet is a blend of 85% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. Deep garnet-brick in color, it offers a spectacularly complex and perfumed nose of red roses, star anise, kirsch, and eucalyptus with a core of plum preserves and baked blackberries, plus a touch of tobacco leaf. Full-bodied and fantastically concentrated, it has a firm frame of ripe rounded tannins and seamless freshness, delivering a long and fragrant finish. Just starting to enter its drinking window, this opulent beauty can be enjoyed over the next 20+ years. Most of Clos Fourtet's vines are situated very close to the town of Saint-Emilion, on the limestone plateau. The estate belongs to the Cuvelier family, who purchased the property in 2000 and have conducted extensive replanting.

Concentrated and intense from the first moment, the aromatics spiral out of the glass with incense, sandalwood, camphor, fennel, anis, liqourice, smoked earth. The impact from the smoked oak is still pretty evident even now, a reflection of the winemaking style at the time, but this is stunning and filled with complex layers of raspberry puree, pomegrante, cocoa bean and espresso. Hard to resist. 100% new oak. Stephane Derenoncourt and Jean-Claude Berrouet consultants.

The 2005 Clos Fourtet was picked between September 26 and October 11 at 35 hl/ha. This has an outstanding bouquet with vivacious red fruit, brimming with crushed stone, a dash of tobacco and orange rind. Very cohesive and focused. There is a slight Rhône-like personality at almost two decades old. The palate is medium-bodied and very harmonious with white pepper-infused black fruit, hints of sage and a chalky finish. I am not quite as effusive as others, but this remains an excellent Clos Fourtet that should mature with grace. Tasted at the Clos Fourtet vertical in April 2023.