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Clos Fourtet 2005

RegionBordeaux
Subregion France > Bordeaux > Right Bank > St Emilion
ColourRed
TypeStill
Grape VarietyMerlot

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Label

Tasting Notes

Dense ruby/purple, with notes of crushed rock, blueberry and blackberry fruit intermixed with some licorice and chocolate, this full-bodied, massive wine from proprietor Philippe Cuvelier coincides with the resurrection of this premier grand cru classé in St.-Emilion. As the wine sits in the glass, notes of espresso roast and chocolate emerge. This full-bodied classic should continue to drink well for another 25 years. This is a killer effort. Drink 2015-2040.

98
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (219), June 2015

The Clos Fourtet 2005 has a lifted, relatively high-toned bouquet with scents of blackcurrant jam, boysenberry and cassis, a light floral scents developing in the glass that still needs to resolve a little. The palate is medium-bodied with calms everything down with a sensual texture, perfectly judged acidity and a very elegant dark cherry and cassis finish. Give this another four or five years in bottle if you can resist. Drink 2019 - 2040

93
Neal Martin, RobertParker.com, February 2015
95
James Suckling, WineSpectator.com, February 2008

The 2005 Clos Fourtet is a blend of 85% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. Deep garnet-brick in color, it offers a spectacularly complex and perfumed nose of red roses, star anise, kirsch, and eucalyptus with a core of plum preserves and baked blackberries, plus a touch of tobacco leaf. Full-bodied and fantastically concentrated, it has a firm frame of ripe rounded tannins and seamless freshness, delivering a long and fragrant finish. Just starting to enter its drinking window, this opulent beauty can be enjoyed over the next 20+ years. Most of Clos Fourtet's vines are situated very close to the town of Saint-Emilion, on the limestone plateau. The estate belongs to the Cuvelier family, who purchased the property in 2000 and have conducted extensive replanting.

99
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, The Wine Independent, July 2022

Tasted blind. Cabernet/leafy fragrance. Tea leaf flavours in abundance. Quite dry on the end. A little lacking juice?
Drink 2016-2028

16.5
Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, March 2017

Good deep red-ruby. Reduced nose offers redcurrant, plum, coffee and smoke. Sweet, lush and creamy on entry, then chewy and tactile if a bit closed in the middle, with suggestions of darker fruits and mocha. Impressively broad on the back, showing a serious wave of finishing fruit, but the tannins are a bit sullen today. Give this very lush, long wine at least seven or eight years of cellaring.

92
Stephen Tanzer, International Wine Cellar

Came 76th out of 184 wines

15.82
-, Southwold Bordeaux Tasting, January 2009

Big classical wine, full and round with noble tannins and expressive fruit, even if less complex and refined as Ausone or even Belair. Great future. Drink from 2015.

18
Michel Bettane, Decanter.com, April 2006
Read more tasting notes...

Clos Fourtet is on a roll, having produced a stunning wine in 2003, and an even more brilliant effort in 2005. Stephane Derenoncourt, the consulting oenologist, has plenty with which to work given the fact that this is a relatively large vineyard (50 acres) planted with 85% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc as well as a small amount of Cabernet Sauvignon. The inky/blue/purple-colored 2005 boasts an exceptional perfume of acacia flowers, blackberry and blueberry liqueur, graphite, scorched earth, and background oak. The wine possesses a full-bodied texture and abundant quantities of stunningly pure black fruits. The result is a sumptuous St.-Emilion of great concentration, intensity, and overall balance. This prodigious effort looks set for 25-30 years of evolution. Utterly awesome!

98
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (176), April 2008

This estate has resurrected itself in a dramatic fashion thanks to the new proprietor, Monsieur Cuvelier and the hard work of his estate manager, Tony Balu, and a consulting team headed by Stephane Derenoncourt. The nearly 50-acre vineyard is planted with 85% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. The 6,000-case 2005 may rival the spectacular 2003, which is currently outstanding. The black/purple-hued 2005 is a wine of extraordinary intensity displaying a beautiful floral nose of licorice, blueberry, creme de cassis, scorched earth, lead pencil, and pain grille notes. Given a Burgundian-like upbringing of malolactic in barrel and five months of lees aging with frequent batonnage, this beauty reached nearly 15% natural alcohol, and boasts enormous concentration, intensity, and richness. It should turn out to be a modern day classic. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2030+

94/96
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (170), April 2007

Under the guidance of its new owner, Monsieur Cuvelier, Clos Fourtet has enjoyed a dramatic renaissance. I did not think the estate could eclipse its other-worldly 2003, but the remarkable 2005 may do just that. A blend of 85% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, the wine is given a Burgundian-styled malolactic in barrel, and is aged 5 months on its lees with batonnage. There are 6,000 cases of the 2005, which achieved 14% natural alcohol. The striking thing about Clos Fourtet is that one can see its fabulous terroir along with great purity, and stunning nobility and complexity. Its inky/purple color is accompanied by beautiful notes of blueberries, blackberries, plums, and flowers. This full-bodied wine cascades over the palate with huge concentration, high tannin, and freshness as well as sweetness. This brilliant effort should be at its peak between 2012-2030.

94/96
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (164), April 2006

The 2005 is a blend of 86% Merlot and 14% Cabernet Franc that was cropped at 35hl/ha and raised in 80% new oak for 18 months, which Mathieu Cuvelier said was relatively long for Clos Fourtet. It has an open bouquet with crisp red fruit, oyster shell, black tea and minerals. It is tightly wound and need three to four more years. The palate is medium-bodied with succulent tannins, meaty black fruit and a pleasant savoury finish that needs more weight and persistency. Tasted December 2012.

93
Neal Martin, RobertParker.com, May 2013

Very rich and ripe with raspberry syrup and floral aromas. Full-bodied, with velvety tannins and a long finish. Seductive

92/94
James Suckling, WineSpectator.com, March 2006

Meaty, sweet nose and lots of energy. Pretty new school but not exaggerated. Should make a satisfying mature whole, but it's a bit harsh on the end now. 14.5%
Drink 2018-2030

17
Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, February 2015

Dark core but shaded at the rim. Attractively distinctive nose - something actually quite terroir-driven about this one at last!!! Glossy and very flattering and gorgeous with a good texture, and some really interesting flavour as opposed to just macerated black cherries.Refreshing. Limestone? Exciting

17.5
Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, February 2009

Dark purplish crimson. Healthy glow. Savoury oak dominates fruit on the nose. Lots of colour intensity and real ripe fruit charm on the palate. Dry finish but sappy and appetising. 2005 energy dominates this fine-boned wine. Drink 2015-28

17.5
Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, April 2006
Please note that these tasting notes/scores are not intended to be exhaustive and in some cases they may not be the most recently published figures. However, we always do our best to add latest scores and reviews when these come to our attention. We advise customers who wish to purchase wines based simply on critical reviews to carry out further research into the latest reports.