Clos Fourtet
Saint-Émilion Red Bordeaux Blend
St. Émilion, Libournais, Bordeaux, France
85 merlot/ 10 CabSauv/ 5 CabFranc
Pop and poured. Very pretty and elegant. Not a blockbuster vintage, but not a slacker in StEm. This Clos Fourtet isn’t flamboyant nor lean, but quite balanced. Deep ruby + purple in the glass, it looks as though it will be heavy and powerful, but it sports lots of potpurri, espresso, and inky black fruits aromatically all wrapped a delicate profile. Good weight on the palate. Very clean (zero Brett). This may lean slightly modern, but the tannin and herbal bite at the finish snap you back to France. Not surprisingly, the last glass was best. No rush here, but a quick dash of air opens the gates.
85 merlot/ 10 CabSauv/ 5 CabFranc
Pop and poured. Very pretty and elegant. Not a blockbuster vintage, but not a slacker in StEm. This Clos Fourtet isn’t flamboyant nor lean, but quite balanced. Deep ruby + purple in the glass, it looks as though it will be heavy and powerful, but it sports lots of potpurri, espresso, and inky black fruits aromatically all wrapped a delicate profile. Good weight on the palate. Very clean (zero Brett). This may lean slightly modern, but the tannin and herbal bite at the finish snap you back to France. Not surprisingly, the last glass was best. No rush here, but a quick dash of air opens the gates.
Allen Brothers Ribcap wine.
The nose reveals ruby, ripe; blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, black plum with extra skin, poached strawberries with raspberries on the edges of the glass. Limestone minerals, dark spices, touch of black licorice, graphite, dry tobacco, cinnamon, nutmeg, clove & vanilla, dry crushed rocks, steeped tea, anise, cola, dry stones, dark, rich earth, bay leaf with candied & florals that are; withered dark, fresh red, purple & violets with fields of lavender.
The palate is round, lush with dusty, fine tannins. Ripe, ruby fruits of; blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, black plum with extra skin, poached strawberries with raspberries on the edges of the glass. Limestone minerals, dark spices, touch of black licorice, graphite, dry tobacco, cinnamon, nutmeg, clove & vanilla, dark chocolate, some caramel, dry crushed rocks, steeped tea, anise, cola, dry stones, dark, dry clay, rich earth, bay leaf with candied florals that are; withered dark, fresh red, purple & violets with fields of lavender. The acidity is round and nicely executed. The finish is classic Bordeaux. Nice balance that begins with fruit then slides into dry earthiness that persist minutes.
Still needs another 5-7 years of cellaring to be at its peak.
Very good with the Ribcap but, not the perfection I look for in this pairing.
Photos of; Chateau Clos Fourtet, century old Clos walls, Owner-Mathieu Cuvelier and another view of Clos Fourtet.
Allen Brothers Ribcap wine.
The nose reveals ruby, ripe; blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, black plum with extra skin, poached strawberries with raspberries on the edges of the glass. Limestone minerals, dark spices, touch of black licorice, graphite, dry tobacco, cinnamon, nutmeg, clove & vanilla, dry crushed rocks, steeped tea, anise, cola, dry stones, dark, rich earth, bay leaf with candied & florals that are; withered dark, fresh red, purple & violets with fields of lavender.
The palate is round, lush with dusty, fine tannins. Ripe, ruby fruits of; blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, black plum with extra skin, poached strawberries with raspberries on the edges of the glass. Limestone minerals, dark spices, touch of black licorice, graphite, dry tobacco, cinnamon, nutmeg, clove & vanilla, dark chocolate, some caramel, dry crushed rocks, steeped tea, anise, cola, dry stones, dark, dry clay, rich earth, bay leaf with candied florals that are; withered dark, fresh red, purple & violets with fields of lavender. The acidity is round and nicely executed. The finish is classic Bordeaux. Nice balance that begins with fruit then slides into dry earthiness that persist minutes.
Still needs another 5-7 years of cellaring to be at its peak.
Very good with the Ribcap but, not the perfection I look for in this pairing.
Photos of; Chateau Clos Fourtet, century old Clos walls, Owner-Mathieu Cuvelier and another view of Clos Fourtet.
This needed time that we didn't give it, still a lovely elegant style of fine bordeaux not encountered that often these days...2008 vintage.
This needed time that we didn't give it, still a lovely elegant style of fine bordeaux not encountered that often these days...2008 vintage.
Jan 14th, 2015
