The 2017 Clos Fourtet Bordeaux Blend from Saint Emilion is a well-regarded wine that showcases the skill and precision of its makers. This vintage, crafted by Clos Fourtet, is predominantly composed of Merlot, complemented by Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, and has received impressive reviews from multiple wine critics.
James Suckling awarded it a score of 94, noting its "fresh blue fruit and hints of graphite and slate" with a "succulent and juicy" palate. He describes it as having a "very long finish," suggesting it is suitable for both immediate enjoyment and longer storage ("jamessuckling.com").
Jeb Dunnuck lauds the wine, giving it a score of 96. He praises its "rocking perfume of ripe black raspberries, cassis, crushed stone, chocolate, and flowery incense." Dunnuck emphasizes its "powerful, full-bodied, and concentrated" nature, predicting it will benefit from short-term cellaring and age well for 20-25 years ("jebdunnuck.com").
Jeff Leve echoes Dunnuck’s sentiment, also scoring it 96, highlighting its "crushed rock nature" and "lovely dense color." Leve describes it as "grand and ornate yet bright and zippy," with a seamless flow from the attack to the finish ("TheWineCellarInsider.com").
Wine Spectator offers a score of 95, appreciating the "pure" fruit flavors and "sneaky, graphite-edged grip" that suggests strong aging potential ("Wine Spectator"). Similarly, Wine Enthusiast gives it a 96, commenting on its "dark, smoky" characteristics and "impressive core of dry tannins" ("Wine Enthusiast").
Jane Anson, with a score of 94, notes the wine's youthful austerity, "gorgeous freshness," and "stunning mouthwatering finish." Anson mentions that Clos Fourtet faced a 20% loss due to frost, yet the unaffected areas produced a wine with remarkable qualities ("janeanson.com").
Overall, the 2017 Clos Fourtet is celebrated for its rich complexity and potential for aging, making it a standout wine from the vintage.