Chateau Clos Fourtet 2018

FALSTAFF: "Dunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, dezente Randaufhellung. Floral unterlegte reife schwarze Herzkirschenfrucht, frische Orangenzesten, tabakige Nuancen, sehr attraktive Nase. Saftig, dunkle Waldbeeren, feine Fruchtsüße, seidige Tannine, frischer Abgang, bleibt gut haften, ein Hauch von Nougat im Finale, ein vielseitiger Begleiter bei Tisch, gutes Reifepotenzial."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2018 Clos Fourtet (a blend of 90% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and 3% Cabernet Franc) opens with wonderfully pure, intense black fruit notes of ripe blackberries, crushed black cherries and warm plums, leading to suggestions of pencil lead, clove oil, black olives and aniseed. The medium to full-bodied palate is chock-full of muscular black fruits, delivering compelling vivacity and tension, framed by velvety tannins and finishing epically long and perfumed. The intense, bright, energetic fruit on this 2018 has been impeccably preserved. Stunning!"

DECANTER: "Extremely concentrated blueberry and blackberry fruit, with a powerful core of freshness. This is an excellent Clos Fourtet that lives up to its promise en primeur. Will need a good decade to soften. A yield of 33hl/ha. 60% new oak."

JEB DUNNUCK: "Beautiful all the way, the deep purple hued 2018 Château Clos Fourtet comes from one of the prized terroirs on the upper limestone plateau, just outside the village of Saint-Emilion. The blend is 90% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc, and the balance Cabernet Sauvignon, brought up in 60% new French oak. Gorgeous minerality as well as cassis and ripe black cherry fruits emerge from this full-bodied 2018 that has lots of tobacco and spice-driven aromatics, again, an almost searing minerality, beautiful overall balance, and ripe, building tannins. It benefits from air if opening bottles anytime soon, and it’s going to benefit from 3-5 years of bottle age and cruise for two decades in cold cellars."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Inky in color, the wine is quite floral in nature, which adds to all the beautifully ripe, red and black fruits, spice, dark chocolate, licorice, espresso and crushed rock character. Full-bodied, concentrated and with a serious depth of flavor, the long finish focuses on you its freshness, rich, voluptuous textures and purity."

WINE ENTHUSIAST: "This impressive estate has produced another fine wine. Structured, powered by tannins as much as by great fruit, this wine is set for a long aging process. The fruit shows massive concentration, enhanced by succulent acidity and bolstered by those tannins that show so strongly. It's a wine for great patience, so wait to drink until 2027."

JAMES SUCKLING: "Beautiful blueberries and black cherries with crushed-stone and limestone notes. Juniper, too. It’s full-bodied, yet so linear and energetic with focused, fine tannins. Fresh acidity. Really fine-grained tannins here. Drink after 2025."

WINE SPECTATOR: "Juicy, winey and very compact in feel, with racy acidity and chalky minerality imbedded deeply in the core of sleek cassis, bitter cherry and damson plum flavors. Nice flecks of savory and dried anise dot the finish, where everything echoes nicely. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2024 through 2038. 2,900 cases made. — JM"