Clos Fourtet 2015
-
Dunnuck
Jeb -
Spectator
Wine -
Enthusiast
Wine -
Suckling
James -
Parker
Robert - Decanter
Product Details
Your Rating
Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
The wines of Clos Fourtet, Premier Grand Cru Classé, embody the finest of Saint-Émilion. Smooth, intriguing and seductive, their pure natural aromas are delicately woven together in a charming display of the unparalleled potential of our terroir. Our wines mark the culmination of all of our efforts, unveiling themselves as time passes - alive, developing and maturing.
Professional Ratings
-
Jeb Dunnuck
An absolute blockbuster is the 2015 Clos Fourtet, which is a blend of 88% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Cabernet Franc. It offers a huge nose of black and blue fruits, loads of incense, violets, chocolate, and underbrush aromas, full body, a seductive, ethereal texture, lots of fine tannins, and a finish that just won’t quit. This is as classy, seamless, and elegant as it gets. Give bottle 4-5 years of bottle age and enjoy over the following two decades.
-
Wine Spectator
Thoroughly ripe but seemingly light-footed, as a remarkably silky structure lets waves of plum sauce, blueberry reduction and raspberry puree glide through effortlessly. Light licorice, violet and ganache hints add to the finish, showing very fine chalky minerality in the background. Drink now through 2035.
-
Wine Enthusiast
Situated against the walls of Saint-Émilion, this estate is producing impressive wines like this vintage with its balance of acidity and opulent, ripe black fruits. Freshness and richness combine in this wine that has a powerful structure that will let it age for many years. Drink from 2025.
Cellar Selection -
James Suckling
Blueberry, stone, mineral and dried-flower aromas follow through to a full body. Silky and polished tannins and a long, flavorful finish. Shows finesse, and polished with such sensitivity. Superb finish. Drink in 2022 but already a joy to taste.
-
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, the 2015 Clos Fourtet has lifted menthol notes on the nose over a core of chocolate-covered cherries, dried mulberries, baked plums and potpourri plus a touch of cloves. Medium-bodied and very firm with lovely ripe, fine-grained tannins and plenty of freshness, it finishes long and perfumed.
Rating: 94+ -
Decanter
Reticent nose but fragrant palate. Supple texture with plentiful but fine tannins. Length and freshness on the finish – the stamp of the limestone terroir evident. Persistent.
Other Vintages
2022-
Suckling
James - Vinous
-
Dunnuck
Jeb - Decanter
-
Parker
Robert
- Vinous
-
Dunnuck
Jeb -
Suckling
James - Decanter
-
Parker
Robert
-
Parker
Robert -
Dunnuck
Jeb -
Suckling
James -
Enthusiast
Wine - Decanter
-
Spectator
Wine
-
Enthusiast
Wine -
Dunnuck
Jeb - Decanter
-
Parker
Robert -
Suckling
James -
Spectator
Wine
- Decanter
-
Dunnuck
Jeb -
Parker
Robert -
Enthusiast
Wine -
Suckling
James -
Spectator
Wine
-
Enthusiast
Wine -
Dunnuck
Jeb -
Spectator
Wine - Decanter
-
Suckling
James -
Parker
Robert
-
Dunnuck
Jeb -
Suckling
James -
Enthusiast
Wine - Decanter
-
Spectator
Wine -
Parker
Robert -
Guide
Connoisseurs'
-
Spectator
Wine -
Wong
Wilfred -
Parker
Robert -
Enthusiast
Wine -
Suckling
James - Decanter
-
Parker
Robert -
Enthusiast
Wine -
Spectator
Wine -
Suckling
James
-
Enthusiast
Wine -
Spectator
Wine -
Parker
Robert -
Suckling
James
-
Parker
Robert -
Enthusiast
Wine -
Spectator
Wine -
Suckling
James
-
Parker
Robert -
Enthusiast
Wine -
Suckling
James -
Spectator
Wine
-
Parker
Robert -
Enthusiast
Wine -
Spectator
Wine
-
Dunnuck
Jeb -
Parker
Robert -
Spectator
Wine -
Enthusiast
Wine -
Spirits
Wine &
-
Enthusiast
Wine -
Parker
Robert -
Spectator
Wine
-
Parker
Robert -
Spectator
Wine
-
Spectator
Wine -
Parker
Robert
-
Parker
Robert
-
Parker
Robert
Clos Fourtet owes its fame to the Rulleau and Carles families. The latter were lords of Figeac. They were the first to grow vines on this barely arable land, which nevertheless has outstanding natural drainage. Clos Fourtet's old vines, perfectly balanced grape varieties, traditional winemaking methods backed up by the most modern techniques, and aging in new oak barrels in underground cellars complement all the gifts that nature has bestowed on this chateau.
One of the world’s most classic and popular styles of red wine, Bordeaux-inspired blends have spread from their homeland in France to nearly every corner of the New World. Typically based on either Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot and supported by Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, the best of these are densely hued, fragrant, full of fruit and boast a structure that begs for cellar time. Somm Secret—Blends from Bordeaux are generally earthier compared to those from the New World, which tend to be fruit-dominant.
Marked by its historic fortified village—perhaps the prettiest in all of Bordeaux, the St-Émilion appellation, along with its neighboring village of Pomerol, are leaders in quality on the Right Bank of Bordeaux. These Merlot-dominant red wines (complemented by various amounts of Cabernet Franc and/or Cabernet Sauvignon) remain some of the most admired and collected wines of the world.
St-Émilion has the longest history in wine production in Bordeaux—longer than the Left Bank—dating back to an 8th century monk named Saint Émilion who became a hermit in one of the many limestone caves scattered throughout the area.
Today St-Émilion is made up of hundreds of independent farmers dedicated to the same thing: growing Merlot and Cabernet Franc (and tiny amounts of Cabernet Sauvignon). While always roughly the same blend, the wines of St-Émilion vary considerably depending on the soil upon which they are grown—and the soils do vary considerably throughout the region.
The chateaux with the highest classification (Premier Grand Cru Classés) are on gravel-rich soils or steep, clay-limestone hillsides. There are only four given the highest rank, called Premier Grand Cru Classés A (Chateau Cheval Blanc, Ausone, Angélus, Pavie) and 14 are Premier Grand Cru Classés B. Much of the rest of the vineyards in the appellation are on flatter land where the soils are a mix of gravel, sand and alluvial matter.
Great wines from St-Émilion will be deep in color, and might have characteristics of blackberry liqueur, black raspberry, licorice, chocolate, grilled meat, earth or truffles. They will be bold, layered and lush.