Clos Fourtet Premier Grand Cru Classe B, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2016

So amazingly nuanced, such elegance combined with ripeness, a vintage that many say is wonderful, as do I. Blackberry and dark cherry, cool blueberry and wet stone minerality delivered in a seamless palate, even more than the 2005 – at least at this tasting. Add to this the impressive concentration, and you get Yin and Yang. A bit of crushed tobacco lends freshness to a very long, cool and thoroughly classy finish. 3.45pH.

Drink 2023 - 2075

The 2016 Clos Fourtet is vivid, explosive and simply captivating. Inky blue/purplish berry fruit, lavender, spice and white flowers are all vivid in the glass, but it is the wine's silky, seamless personality that elevates it into a place among the wines of the vintage. In 2016, Clos Fourtet is stunningly beautiful and utterly compelling. This is a tremendous showing from proprietor Matthieu Cuvelier and consulting winemaker Stéphane Derenoncourt. Tasted two times.

Drink 2024 - 2056

Love the dark-berry and intense black-olive and chocolate aromas that follow through to a full body and firm and chewy tannins that deliver a rich and delicious finish. Such polish and, at the same time, finesse. But one of the cellar. A blend of 90 per cent merlot, seven per cent cabernet sauvignon and three per cent cabernet franc.

Drink 2022

60% new oak. Stephane Derenoncourt and Jean-Claude Berrouet consultants.

Huge depth of colour, this delivers aromatics to dive right into, packed with violet flowers and baked fruit. The tannic structure remains young and very much in control, with edges of austerity, cradling the fruit, but once you wade through the first few moments, things relax to show creamy raspberry, black cherry and damson, with cocoa bean, espresso, sandalwood, incense, tobacco leaf. Pretty closed down at the moment, great lift on the finish and the sappy saline character, with an eucalyptus, from ripe Merlot on limestone, just a beautiful wine that you will want to share, but give it time.

Drink 2026 - 2050

Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Clos Fourtet is a little closed to begin, slowly unfurling to reveal notions of warm black cherries, crème de cassis, blackberry compote and dark chocolate with hints of garrigue, bay leaves and cigar box. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has a firm yet beautifully ripe frame of fine-grained tannins with a lively line lifting the concentrated, multilayered fruit to a long finish.

Drink 2019 - 2037

The 2016 Clos-Fourtet has a glorious bouquet of copious blackberry, raspberry, mint and autumn leaf aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with firm tannins, a fine bead of acidity, good grip and a solid, dense but delineated finish that lingers. There is a sense of classicism pervading this Saint-Émilion, which has a long future ahead. Outstanding. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting.

Drink 2023 - 2048