Clos Fourtet: Tasting & Drinking
My tasting experience of Clos Fourtet takes in a number of vintages which straddle the Lurton-Cuvelier changeover, with of course more recent vintages tasted both after bottling and during the primeurs. For my palate the approach taken by Cuvelier, Ballu and Alard, aiming for optimal ripeness without sur-maturité, using carefully judged extractions, while maintaining the presence of Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon in the vineyard to balance out the Merlot (achieving sufficient ripeness in the Cabernet Sauvignon for this variety to be included in the grand vin in recent years), means that the wines hold considerable interest. They work in great years such as 2005 and 2010, but they also did well in more challenging years such as 2003. In this latter vintage the wines of the right bank have faded fast in many cases, but the 2003 Clos Fourtet was still going strong when last tasted.
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