2020 Clos Fourtet, 1er Grand Cru Classé St-Emilion

2020 Clos Fourtet, 1er Grand Cru Classé St-Emilion

Clos Fourtet enjoys one of the finest locations in St-Emilion, just outside the town, and the 2020 is a spectacular, high-scoring wine. Produced in tiny quantities, this is well worth securing En Primeur.

Critic score
96/100 info

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Wine details

  • Region & country
    Saint-Emilion, Right Bank, Bordeaux, France
  • Maturity
    Young 2027 - 2047info
  • Colour
    Red
  • Sweetness
    Dry
  • Style
    Still
  • Unit Volume
    Bottle (75cl.)
  • ABV
    14.5%

Tasting notes

This is really something with so much tension and focus and a persistent, long finish that lasts for minutes. It’s full-bodied, yet tight and so long. Such polish and finesse. Elegance with power.

James Suckling, jamessuckling.com (May 2021)
95—96/100

Deep purple. Pretty heady, complex nose. Appetising palate. Round, ripe tannins lurking beneath some pretty sophisticated fruit. Finishes dry and spreads out on the very end like a peacock's tail. Much drier than most St-Émilions, with seriously interesting freshness.

Jancis Robinson MW, jancisrobinson.com (May 2021)
17/20

The 2020 Clos Fourtet was picked September 15–30 at 40hl/ha and matured in 50% new oak. It has an expressive, winsome bouquet of red and blue fruit, crushed rose and iris, touches of blood orange coming through with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with svelte tannins and wonderful acidity. Harmonious and almost crystalline toward the finish. This is a very impressive Clos Fourtet that brims with freshness and persistence, gaining weight and depth over the course of an hour. It will battle the 2019 for supremacy.

Neal Martin, vinous.com (May 2021)
(95—97)/100

Plush damson and blueberry on the nose, there is juice and a tightrope walking concentration of fruits. An excellent Clos Fourtet, with a juicy edge where the magic of limestone in dry summers is very much showing through. A yield of 40 hl/ha. 14 to 18 months ageing in underground limestone cellars. 2021 sees 20 years of the Cuvelier family at Clos Fourtet and this is an excellent wine to showcase what a brilliant job they have done here. Score could go higher after barrel ageing.

Jane Anson, Decanter (May 2021)
96/100
Clos Fourtet

Clos Fourtet began life as a fortified camp in the Middle Ages, built to protect the village of St-Emilion. Now it is a fine example of top quality Right Bank Bordeaux and is an estate with an ever growing reputation. Its vines sit in a 20 hectare single vineyard plot across the revered limestone plateau and neighbouring the hugely popular Château Canon. It is owned by Philippe and Matthieu Cuvelier, who also own Château Poujeaux. The Cuveliers are meticulous in their care of the estate, with growing use of organic and biodynamic methods to ensure the longevity of the vines for future generations.

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