Chateau Clos Fourtet 2021

JAMES SUCKLING: "Lots of vibrant blue berries, black cherries, and violets followed by eucalyptus and vanilla beans with subtle black ink and stony mineral notes. Full-bodied, solid tannins with soft acidity. Wonderful frame and structure with density. Sophisticated. Try after 2026."

DECANTER: "An improvement on its Primeurs score. Delicately fragranced on the nose with soft red berry and pink floral notes. Smells pretty and inviting with delicate accents of green peppercorns, vanilla and clove. Supple in a juicy, textured way with a finessed energy that definitely doesn't shout out of the glass but is quietly confident. Finessed and well put together, almost sinewy in the construction - fine tannins, acidity, pure red fruit and a long liquorice and wet stone finish. Really complete, just dialed down, very in keeping with the vintage. Nothing is out of place. A lovely wine with the delicate sweet juiciness that I love. May be too light for some, but this is great."

LISA PERROTTI-BROWN: "A blend of 90% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 3% Cabernet Franc, Clos Fourtet 2021 is deep garnet-purple in color. It comes prancing out with gregarious notes of kirsch, black raspberries, and blueberry pie, opening out to wafts of violets, star anise, chocolate mint, and tilled soil. The medium-bodied palate delivers an impressive intensity of red and black fruit layers, complemented by a plush texture and refreshing acidity, finishing long and fragrant."

WEINWISSER: "Satte, saftige Frucht, sehr offensiv und klar im Geruch, zeigt der Clos Fourtet 2021 noch wenig Tiefe. Dicht und klar auf der Zunge, total frisch und strukturiert, mit etwas stumpfer Aromatik und viel rassigen Gerbstoffen. Tolle Weite am Gaumen und kernige Mitte. Die Frucht wirkt reifer als die jugendliche Struktur. Die Gerbstoffe haben mehr Klasse als die aromatische Kernaussage."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "The wine pops with flowers, black cherries, espresso beans, licorice and lack cherries. Medium-bodied, elegant and vibrant, the supple, almost creamy finish is loaded with plums cherries and a refreshing sprig of mint to wrap things up. The wine blends 90% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and 3% Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink from 2025-2049."

JEB DUNNUCK: "A wine that needs air to show at its best, the 2021 Clos Fourtet is a Merlot-dominated blend that includes 7% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Cabernet Sauvignon, all of which spent 14-18 months in 50% new oak. Its deep ruby/plum hue is followed by a solid yet inward bouquet of ripe black cherries, smoked earth, graphite, and chalky minerality. This carries to a medium-bodied Saint-Emilion offering plenty of tannins, good mid-palate density, and the straight, focused, linear, yet concentrated style of the top wines in the vintage."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "The 2021 Clos Fourtet opens in the glass with notes of dark berries, plums, spices and subtle hints of smoked meats and toasty oak. Medium-bodied, fleshy and ample, with powdery tannins that assert themselves on the gently structured finish, this remains a strong effort, but it doesn't quite deliver the depth and plenitude it seemed to en primeur."

WINE SPECTATOR: "Shows a sleek, refined core of black cherry and cassis flavors, lined with lengthy but filigreed chalky threads and backed by an alluring whiff of black tea. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Drink now through 2036. 4,000 cases made, 500 cases imported."

FALSTAFF: "Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Dunkle Waldbeeren, zart nach Preiselbeeren und roten Herzkirschen, etwas Nougat. Mittlerer Körper, zarte Kirschfrucht, feine Tannine, zarte Kräuterwürze im Abgang, mittlere Länge."