| Over 2 000 reviews |  4.80/5 |
 |
Wine and spirits masterpieces to your doorstep
1st Grand Cru Classé B
Free delivery from 300€ in Europe and from 1000 €/$ in USA
Secure packaging and transport insurance
This is one of Saint-Emilion's most modest estates, located at the entrance to the village, but whose wines are among the most distinguished. It is a former small fort or "camp fortet" that watched over the medieval town in times of peace and defended it in times of war.
The single vineyard, located on the highest western slopes of Saint-Emilion, is surrounded by low walls, which is how it got its current name.
It has belonged to the Cuvelier family since 2001, with Philippe and his son Matthieu constantly striving for excellence and purity. In particular, they have chosen to manage the vineyard with organic and biodynamic treatments.
The Clos Fourtet was named Premier Grand Cru Classé as soon as the Saint-Emilion classification was created in 1955. It still holds this distinction today, testifying to the merit of its place among the elite.
Le Clos Fourtet reigns over a vineyard of 18.5 hectares of vines, planted on a clay-limestone plateau and whose grape varieties are 85% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Cabernet franc. The wines are aged for 15 to 18 months in French oak barrels, 60% of which are new.
The estate produces a Second wine, Closerie de Fourtet.
Le Clos Fourtet delivers wines of exquisite complexity and inimitable freshness thanks to its great terroir. Offering delicate tannins, they deserve to wait a few years to gain in refinement.
2009 is a dream wine year, a great success. The summer was remarkably sunny until September, with cool nights as the harvest approached, which favored a good ripening of the berries with a concentration of aromas and color. The harvest was of exceptional oenological quality.
Blend of the 2009 vintage: 88% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc
The color is a dark and dense red, with beautiful slightly tiled reflections.
The nose combines freshness and complexity, with beautiful notes of ripe black fruits such as blueberry and blackcurrant, toasted wood, menthol and caramel.
On the palate it plays on the same register of elegance, with a suave attack and a palate that is ample and rises crescendo in power thanks to structured tannins. Notes of chocolate and blackcurrant buds bring a lot of freshness and an airy dimension, and it ends long on a precise finish. A voluptuous and refined Saint-Emilion.
Food and wine pairing:
Clos Fourtet 2009 will go wonderfully well with subtle meat dishes such as beef steak with foie gras and porcini mushrooms, veal grenadine with morel sauce, roast pigeon or hare stew.
It will also be appreciated with soft cheeses with a bloomy rind such as Brillat-savarin, morbier with truffles, Edam or Gouda.
And what about desserts, where its greedy side will be accentuated on a pear-chocolate bavarois, a black forest cake or a three chocolate dessert.
Ageing potential and tasting:
Clos Fourtet 2009 can wait another ten years or more in the cellar, its peak being between 2025 and 2040. However, it is now possible to appreciate all its richness and complexity, if possible by opening the bottle the day before and placing it in the room. At least, open and decant the bottle 6 to 7 hours before tasting.
To follow its evolution over time, do not hesitate to proceed to successive tastings to measure the evolution of the wine and its qualitative peak.
The bottles should be kept in the cellar in a dark place, lying down, with an optimal hygrometric degree of 70%.
