Clos Fourtet 2013

One can sense the chalky limestone soil base of much of the Clos Fourtet vineyard (adjacent to the walls of this medieval showcase town). The dense ruby/plum-colored 2013 offers sweet black cherry and cassis fruit, good minerality, slightly angular acids (a characteristic of many 2013s), and ripe tannins. It should turn out to be very good, but it is clearly not one of the great Clos Fourtets made over the last decade or more. Drink it over the next 10-12 years.

The 2013 Clos Fourtet clearly has one of the best aromatic profiles of 2013: clean and pure red cherries dallying with crushed strawberry fruit and dried fig that is a joy. The palate is lively on the entry with a keen line of acidity. There is a pleasant edginess from start to finish and it displays admirable precision if not immense depth on the finish. This is an early-drinking Clos Fourtet, one that is well made by Mathieu Cuvelier and this team. This is recommended.

The Clos Fourtet has a well-defined, mineral driven bouquet that is reserved at first, but unfolds in the glass - always a good sign at this stage. The palate is medium-bodied with ripe blackberry and raspberry fruit, tensile tannins with a punchy finish. This is one of the better Saint Emilion wines in 2013, no doubt. Tasted April 2014