Chateau Clos Fourtet 2010

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "Deep garnet in color, the 2010 Clos Fourtet is a little closed to begin, opening out to reveal notes of baked black cherries, blueberry preserves and dried mulberries plus hints of cast-iron pan, fertile loam and cigar box with a waft of sandalwood. Full-bodied, the palate has a rock-solid frame of firm, grainy tannins and compelling freshness supporting the muscular fruit, finishing long and mineral laced. Very impressive!"

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Deep in color, the wine pops with black licorice, truffle, earth, dark berries, silky textures, velvety tannins and a long, polished, sexy finish that builds in intensity."

WINE SPECTATOR: "Very winey, with a saturated, sappy feel as kirsch, blackberry preserves and blueberry coulis notes tumble around, while the frame of charcoal, smoldering tobacco and licorice root keeps them penned together. The tannin structure is significant, but very refined, and that should carry this through extended cellaring while the aromatics and midpalate develop harmony. Best from 2016 through 2030. 3,750 cases made. –JM"

WINE ENTHUSIAST: "This chunky, fruity wine is full bodied and rich. It shows all the structure and weight of the vintage allied to ripe black fruits and a dense texture edged with minerality. Still very firm and youthful, it will need many years to mature."

JAMES SUCKLING: "A beautiful wine, with everything in the bottle. Blackberries, minerals and blueberries. Full and silky. Long, long finish."

FALSTAFF: "Sehr dunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe; verhalten, zart blättrig-würzig unterlegtes dunkles Beerenkonfit, zart nach Orangenzesten; stoffige Frucht, frische Weichselkirschenfrucht, gut integrierte, tragende Tannine, rotbeerige Nuancen im Abgang, mineralisch, gutes Entwicklungspotenzial, zart nach Dörrzwetschgen im Nachhall."

WEINWISSER: "Tiefes Purpur. Viel Kirschen im Nasenbild, noble Edelhölzer. Im Gaumen fordernd pointierter Säurebeginn, rote Kirschen, wirkt vordergründig und streng, satt im Extrakt, mit extrahiertem Touch."