20 years of Clos Fourtet in the hands of the Cuvelier family

This tasting and evening was to commemorate 20 years of ownership of Clos Fourtet in Saint-Emilion, by the Cuvelier family.

The tasting was held in April 2023, and I have a serious backlog of tasting notes to publish. 

The tasting was set up in a flight and all wines are in the order they were tasted. They were not served in chronological order. The Cuvelier family has transformed the quality of the estate, especially in later vintages. I remember some vintages in the 90´s was quite rustic when young, even if some of them has aged well, there were som tough nails here when young. Some were also quite green. 

Today they are lush and fruit forward, very expressive and detailed, sometimes quite big and bold, but they always retain acidity, freshness to the fruit, as well as quite often a graphite mineralogy that all combines to make the wines more graceful than the first impression sometimes might suggest. 

They also age very well, I have had lovely examples going back almost a hundred years from this estate, and there is no reason to think the younger vintages couldn't age as, if not more gracefully. 

2022 La Closerie de Fourtet

Ruby. Scented, floral, bright, fruit driven, layered, intense nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, smooth, layered, intense, almost creamy, quite rich, alcohol warmth, long finish. 91-93

 

2022 Clos Fourtet

Ruby. Lush, scented and lifted nose, detailed and layered, nuanced, minerals, detailed, truffles and chocolate. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, blackberries, fruit driven, juicy, layered, intense, detailed, such an energy to it, bright red fruits kick inn mid palate, changing the whole picture, superb length. 96-98

 

2002 Clos Fourtet

Ruby, thin garnet rim. Leather, anise, scented, bright and nuanced nose, cedar, minerals and minty. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, red fruits, anise, leaner bodied, anise, dates and figs, tobacco, long if leaner finish. 90

 

2006 Clos Fourtet

Ruby, thin garnet rim. Scented, red berries, anise, some liquorice, detailed, nuanced nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, red fruits, anise, liquorice, red berries, juicy with texture, long finish. 92

 

2011 Clos Fourtet

Ruby. Scented, blackberries, anise, some liquorice, dark fruits nose, quite bright. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, juicy, detailed, intense, quite nuanced, still a bit firm, lovely balance. Long. 93

 

2013 Clos Fourtet

Ruby. Blackberries, anise, dark fruits, liquorice, nuanced nose.But lighter. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, leaner bodied, anise, some spices, juicy, good length. 89

 

2017 Clos Fourtet

Ruby. Red and dark fruits, floral high notes, spices, some minerals, fairly detailed nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, red fruits, anise, spices, liquorice, firmer, bit narrow finish. 92

 

2003 Clos Fourtet

Ruby, garnet rim. Plums, cherries, some dates and prunes, blueberries and fine tobacco notes nose. Medium acidity, ripe tannins, juicy, blackberries, anise, spices, detailed, rounded, tobacco finish, long. 92

 

2009 Clos Fourtet

Ruby, thin garnet rim. Blackberries, anise, spices, liquorice, detailed nose, lifted, some mint and sweet tobacco, just starting to show more development. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruits, liquorice, some spices, intense, some alcohol warmth, layered and deep, long. 96

 

2015 Clos Fourtet

Ruby. Scented, red fruits, anise, minerals, detailed, nuanced, blackberries and blueberries nose, lifted. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, blueberries, anise, dark fruits and spices, liquorice, nuanced and long. 95

 

2001 Clos Fourtet

Ruby, thin garnet rim. Scented, minerals, lifted, fruit driven, detailed, nuanced, iron notes, dates and blackberries, some tobacco. Lovely at this stage. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, red berries, anise, juicy, some spices, tobacco, elegant mineral note, layered and detailed, long. 94

 

2004 Clos Fourtet

Ruby, thin garnet rim. Scented, lighter, red fruits and dark berries, some spices, nuanced nose, minerals.Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, red fruits, anise, lighter bodied, some herbs, red fruits, some dates, long finish. 91

 

2008 Clos Fourtet

Ruby, thin garnet rim. Scented, red fruits, cherries, blackberries, blueberries, quite lifted nose, bright. Beeneath some coffee and spices. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, blackberries, anise, spices, liquorice, nuanced, long finish, still a bit firm. 92

 

2012 Clos Fourtet

Ruby, faint garnet rim. Some tobacco, dates, figs notes nose, blueberries and spices, nuanced if lighter. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, light bodied, some vanilla and spices, leaner, bit of toast bitterness, good length. 89

 

2014 Clos Fourtet

Ruby. Blackberries, anise, fruit driven, some spices, nuanced nose, some herbs. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, red fruits, anise, some spices, juicy, leaner bodied, refreshing, long finish. 91

 

2005 Clos Fourtet

Ruby, faint garnet rim. Blackberries, dark fruits, bramble, concentrated and detailed, fairly rich nose. Youthful and still on the firm side. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, blackberries, anise, liquorice, spices, intense and quite dense, long finish. Still very tight. 95

 

2010 Clos Fourtet

Ruby. Cassis, blackberries, liquorice, some vanilla and spices nose, dark fruits. Touch of coconuts and vanilla. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, blackberries, anise, spices, rich, dark fruits, liquorice, dense, firm, long finish. You can chew the texture in this, still a baby. 96

 

2016 Clos Fourtet

Ruby. Blackberries, anise, spices, dark fruits, liquorice, layered and deep nose, stunning. A different energy to it. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruits, intense, layered, detailed, spices, blackberries, rich, intnse, minerals, long finish. Lovely. 95

 

2018 Clos Fourtet

Ruby. Dark fruits, blackberries, anise, some spices, liquorice, layered, nuanced, scented nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, blackberries, juicy, liqurice, detailed, layered, quite rich, long finish. 94

 

2019 Clos Fourtet

Ruby. Scented, red berries, anise, some cherries, fruit driven nose, some spices, quite detailed. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, red fruits, spices, detailed, layered, intense, minerals, lots of texture but so fine grained tannins, long finish. 97

 

2020 Clos Fourtet

Ruby. Blackberries, anise, some spices, dark fruits, liquorice and spices, firmer nose at this stage. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, blackberries, dark fruits, anise, riper, rich and dense, blackberries, long finish. Some alcohol warmth. 96