Château Clos Fourtet Saint-Emilion AOP, 1er Grand Cru Classé

This is broad and opulent with a full body and fine-grained, velvety tannins. Deep dark fruit, crushed violets and spices. Structured, layered and really long. Wow. So long and refined with great clarity. James Suckling 97-98 (jamessuckling.com) Now incorporating the vineyards of the former Grand Murailles, the 2022 Clos Fourtet is lovely, wafting from the glass with aromas of dark berries, plums, rose petals, orange zest and exotic spices. Medium to full-bodied, velvety and seamless, it's deep and complete, with a layered core of vibrant fruit and a long, saline finish. This is another terrific wine from this 19-hectare vineyard situated on the limestone plateau of Saint-Émilion, just outside the village. It's a blend of 90% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and 3% Cabernet Sauvignon. William Kelley 94-96 (robertparker.com) Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, opaker Kern, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Attraktive schwarze Beerenfrucht, floral unterlegtes Cassis, etwas Lakritze, zart nach Mandarinenzesten, sehr einladendes Bukett. Kraftvoll, saftig und elegant, kühle Textur, reife, tragende Tannine, mineralisch-salzig im Abgang, finessenreich und sehr lange anhaftend, schokoladiger Nachhall, großes Reifepotenzial. falstaff 98 (falstaff.com) Deep crimson hue. Expressive red-fruit and mineral nose. Generous fruit backed by plentiful but refined tannins. Remarkably smooth texture but firms up and lingers on the finish. Terroir evident. One for the cellar. (JL) Jancis Robinson 16,5 (jancisrobinson.com)