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Clos Fourtet 2003

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

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Label

Tasting Notes

This magnificent wine, which is just beginning to come into full maturity, boasts an inky/purple color as well as copious notes of blackberries, licorice, violets, and a striking chalky minerality. Full-bodied, voluptuously textured and stunningly pure, this great Bordeaux is one of the vintage's superstars. The finish lasts 40-45 seconds in this majestic, multidimensional St. Emilion. It should continue to drink well for 10-15 years, but why wait? Drink: 2014-2029

98
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (214), August 2014

Very velvety tannins and a long and beautiful finish. Very long. This is 1998, or better.

92/94
James Suckling, Wine Spectator (April 04), April 2004

Gentle, polished winemaking. Sweet start but then there are some very fine tannins. Quite accomplished. Correct version of the modern idiom with no exaggerations. Long rather than just alcoholic. Real vigour and balance.

17.5
Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com (April 04), April 2004
Read more tasting notes...

This estate has come back strongly under new ownership, and the quality of the wines now exhibits the tremendous potential of this extraordinary terroir on the limestone plateau just outside the walls of St.-Emilion. Sampled three times from bottle, the 2003 Clos Fourtet is the finest wine I have ever tasted from this estate. Made in a full-bodied, extravagantly rich style, it is just beginning to close down, but it is easy to see the layers of concentrated black cherry, plum, and licorice-infused fruit. There is also a subtle hint of charcoal as well as loads of mineral, flower, blackberry, and creme de cassis characteristics. This full-flavored, opulent, glycerin-filled 2003 offers impressive richness, silky tannin, and a long, 45+ second finish. It will benefit from 2-3 years of bottle age, and drink well for two decades or more.

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

Revealing a character remarkably similar to its big sister, but not as layered or concentrated, this opaque purple-colored wine reveals pure notes of blueberries, blackberries, and minerals, full body, and tremendous depth as well as texture. Because of low acidity and ripe tannin, it will be drinkable at a much earlier age, and may even out-perform the 2003 Ausone over the next 10-12 years. Anticipated maturity: now-2025.

92/95
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (158), April 2005

Irrefutably the greatest wine I have ever tasted from Clos Fourtet, this dense purple-colored 2003 is full-bodied, deep, and chewy with abundant amounts of black currant fruit interwoven with subtle wood, espresso roast, and hints of chocolate as well as roasted meat juices. Long, opulent, and full-bodied, with high glycerin, concentration, and superbly integrated tannin, this beauty is a tour de force in winemaking for Clos Fourtet. It was tasted three separate times with virtually identical notes. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2020+.

94/96
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (152), April 2004
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.