Tasting notes
Antonio Galloni · Vinous · 98
The 2018 Clos Fourtet is one of the most elegant, refined wines of the vintage. Silky and aromatically expressive, Clos Fourtet is all grace. Blue/purplish fruit, lavender, spice, menthol and sage all lift from the glass. Even with all of the natural richness of the year, Clos Fourtet sizzles with tension and delineation. Then again, that is the magic of the Saint-Émilion plateau. Clos Fourtet is easy to look past in 2018. It is neither exuberant nor exotically ripe. Instead, everything is in reserve. The 2018 is a magical wine, that's all there is to it. Don't miss it.
Drink 2028 - 2058
Jane Anson · Decanter · 97
Owned by Mathieu Cuvelier, located right on the central limestone plateau of the medieval village of St Emilion. Ruby red in colour, the rough slate texture hits you right off the bat, landing you straight in limestone territory. As it inches forward through the palate, you get juicy raspberry, concentrated cassis fruit pastille, spiced plum, grilled almonds and tobacco leaf, with curls of woodsmoke and flint. There is a generosity that is already apparent, and this is exceptionally good quality, but needs another few years in bottle. A yield of 33hl/ha. 60% new oak.
Jeb Dunnuck · Jeb Dunnuck · 97
Beautiful all the way, the deep purple hued 2018 Château Clos Fourtet comes from one of the prized terroirs on the upper limestone plateau, just outside the village of Saint-Emilion. The blend is 90% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc, and the balance Cabernet Sauvignon, brought up in 60% new French oak. Gorgeous minerality as well as cassis and ripe black cherry fruits emerge from this full-bodied 2018 that has lots of tobacco and spice-driven aromatics, again, an almost searing minerality, beautiful overall balance, and ripe, building tannins. It benefits from air if opening bottles anytime soon, and it’s going to benefit from 3-5 years of bottle age and cruise for two decades in cold cellars.
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW · Wine Advocate · 97
Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2018 Clos Fourtet (a blend of 90% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and 3% Cabernet Franc) opens with wonderfully pure, intense black fruit notes of ripe blackberries, crushed black cherries and warm plums, leading to suggestions of pencil lead, clove oil, black olives and aniseed. The medium to full-bodied palate is chock-full of muscular black fruits, delivering compelling vivacity and tension, framed by velvety tannins and finishing epically long and perfumed. The intense, bright, energetic fruit on this 2018 has been impeccably preserved. Stunning!
James Suckling · James Suckling · 96
Beautiful blueberries and black cherries with crushed-stone and limestone notes. Juniper, too. It’s full-bodied, yet so linear and energetic with focused, fine tannins. Fresh acidity. Really fine-grained tannins here. Drink after 2025.
Panos Kakaviatos · Decanter · 95
While the 2018 vintage got plenty of buzz, following the less heralded 2017, I remain less enthusiastic when compared to the stellar 2016. The 2018 has a more roasted fruit profile, albeit with impressive and seductive) mid-palate concentration and a long finish. There is no denying the layers of ripe fruit, although the alcohol is felt more same level as the 2016 vintage). 3.6pH.
Drink 2025 - 2070
Neal Martin · Vinous · 93
The 2018 Clos Fourtet was picked between September 25 and October 9 at 33 hl/ha. The nose is ravishing and generous, with plenty of black fruit, graphite, smoke and a touch of pine. Moderate definition—not as precise as the preceding '16. The palate is medium-bodied with "thick-set" tannins, dense and powerful, with some warmth on the finish. It's quite saccharine on the aftertaste. I liked this vintage a little more two or three years ago. Tasted at the Clos Fourtet vertical in April 2023.
