Château Clos Fourtet, 1er Grand Cru Classé, St Emilion, 2010
85% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. Again, the naturally low pH levels achieved in 2010 have helped at Clos Fourtet. There's no doubt that this limestone terroir is capable of producing great wine, but sometimes they appear a little too massive and lack a touch of freshness for our palates. This is not the case in 2010. A really flashy bouquet of complex minerals and perfumed fruit. The mid palate is quite weighty with excellent depth and stunning texture. As mentioned before, the acidity balances this and brings harmony to this large-scale wine. We like it a lot.
critic reviews
The 2010 Clos Fourtet was picked between September 30 and October 21 at 34 hl/ha. This has an impressive nose: an enticing mélange of red and black fruit, crushed stone, wilted rose petals and tobacco emanating from the Cabernet Sauvignon. The palate is medium-bodied but with real depth, its power counterbalanced by the keen line of acidity. Touches of spicebox, white pepper and mineral define the precise finish that lingers in the mouth. Outstanding. Tasted at the Clos Fourtet vertical in April 2023.
Lovely deep plum colour, vivid violet reflections, this delivers exactly what you want from a 2010 - with clarity of blackberry and bilberry fruit, waves of fresher pomegranate and juicy greengage, a ton of liquorice, fennel and gunsmoke, taut with tension and precisely-cut tannins. Exceptional quality. 80% new oak. Stephane Derenoncourt and Jean-Claude Berrouet consultants.