Clos Fourtet

History of Clos Fourtet

Clos Fourtet, with its evocative name, traces its origins to an ancient fort, the "Camp Fourtet", which protected the town of Saint-Émilion in the Middle Ages. From the 18th century, this place was transformed into a wine estate under the impetus of the Rulleau family. The vineyard was then enclosed by walls, hence its current name "Clos", meaning a delimited and cultivated plot of land. During this period, Clos Fourtet quickly gained a reputation for excellence, propelled by the quality of its clay-limestone terroir and its dominant position on the Saint-Émilion plateau.

In 1919, the famous Ginestet family, owner of several renowned estates, purchased Clos Fourtet, further enhancing its prestige. Later, in 2001, Philippe Cuvelier acquired the property and, with his son Matthieu, ushered in a new era of modernisation whilst respecting the estate's traditions. Through strategic investments and a commitment to organic and biodynamic viticulture, the Cuvelier family has enabled Clos Fourtet to once again become one of the region's essential references.

Terroirs and Vines of Clos Fourtet

The terroir of Clos Fourtet is one of the most prestigious in Saint-Émilion, anchored on the famous asteriated limestone plateau, a rocky formation that gives the wines unparalleled freshness and minerality. This shallow clay-limestone soil benefits from excellent natural drainage, ideal for vine cultivation. The vineyard, covering an area of 20 hectares, is planted predominantly with Merlot (85%), a grape variety that brings roundness and suppleness to the wines. The 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc complete this grape variety mix, adding aromatic complexity and ageing potential.

The vineyard is characterised by a high planting density, from 6,000 to 9,000 vines per hectare, to maximise fruit quality. The average age of the vines is 35 years, with constant renewal of the plots to preserve the youth and vigour of the vineyard. This particular attention to vineyard management allows for controlled yields, less than 40 hectolitres per hectare, thus ensuring optimal concentration of aromas in each grape.

Vinification at Clos Fourtet

Vinification at Clos Fourtet combines tradition and innovation to produce wines of exceptional quality. The process begins with meticulous hand-harvesting, ensuring that only the best fruit is selected. The grapes are then vinified in small temperature-controlled stainless steel vats, which allow precise control of the fermentation temperature and thus better extraction of aromas and tannins.

Malolactic fermentation, essential for softening the acidity of the wines, takes place in French oak barrels, of which 60 to 80% are new. This choice allows the wine to benefit from an elegant tannic structure and aromatic subtlety whilst respecting the fruit. Ageing lasts 14 to 18 months, an optimal duration to refine the wines and give them a velvety texture and great ageing potential.

The estate is in full transition towards biodynamics, an environmentally friendly approach that is reflected in the quality of the wines. This cultivation method promotes the natural balance of soils and vines, whilst enhancing the purity of aromas and the finesse of tannins. Work in the vineyards and cellars is supervised by the team of renowned oenologists, notably Stéphane Derenoncourt, famous for his expertise in terroir expression, and Jean-Claude Berrouet, known for his work at Château Pétrus.

The cuvées of Clos Fourtet

Clos Fourtet

The Grand Vin of Clos Fourtet is the quintessence of this unique terroir. Composed mainly of Merlot, it is distinguished by its deep colour, its complex nose blending ripe black fruits, sweet spices, and a hint of minerality characteristic of limestone. On the palate, it is a powerful yet silky wine, with melted tannins and balanced acidity, giving it great freshness. This wine evolves beautifully with time, developing more subtle notes of undergrowth, cocoa and truffle.

Closerie de Fourtet

The estate's second wine, Closerie de Fourtet, comes from the young vines of the estate and the less prestigious plots. It offers a more accessible expression of the Clos Fourtet terroir, with gourmet aromas of red fruits, a more supple structure and a round and elegant palate. This lighter wine is ideal for earlier consumption whilst retaining the distinctive style of the estate.

Château Les Grandes Murailles

In 2013, the Cuvelier family acquired Château Les Grandes Murailles, a vineyard of only 2 hectares located in the immediate vicinity of Clos Fourtet. This micro-terroir, also planted mainly with Merlot, produces wines of great aromatic intensity, with firm tannins and lively acidity, giving it excellent ageing potential. Integrated since the 2022 vintage into the Clos Fourtet cuvées, this wine brings an additional dimension to all the estate's wines.

Château Côte de Baleau

Acquired in 2013, Château Côte de Baleau completes the range of cuvées produced by the Cuvelier family. This 18-hectare estate, also located on the Saint-Émilion plateau, is recognised for its fine and elegant wines, with a marked tannic structure and aromas of black fruits and spices. As with Clos Fourtet, particular attention is paid to biodynamics and plot-by-plot vinification.

Saint-Émilion, a jewel of the Bordeaux wine region, has produced vintages of exceptional quality over the years, delighting connoisseurs of fine wines. Among the legendary vintages, one can cite 1947, 1959, and 1961, true icons that have marked the history of Bordeaux wines. The famous 1982 remains an undisputable reference. The following decades were equally impressive, with remarkable vintages such as 1990, 1995, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2003, and 2005, all acclaimed for their richness and ageing potential. More recently, the 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, and 2020 vintages have shone through their balance and depth, reaffirming Saint-Émilion's reputation as one of Bordeaux's most sought-after appellations, where each new year continues to captivate fine wine enthusiasts with its consistent quality and elegance.

The classification of Saint-Émilion's Premiers Grands Crus Classés B, reviewed every 10 years, highlights exceptional châteaux from the Right Bank vineyard. Among those that continue to feature in this prestigious category are emblematic names such as Château Beau-Séjour Bécot, Château Beauséjour Héritiers Duffau Lagarrosse, Château Bélair-Monange, Château Canon, Château Pavie-Macquin, Château Troplong-Mondot, Château Trottevieille, and Clos Fourtet. Others, promoted in 2012, such as Château Canon-La-Gaffelière, Château Larcis-Ducasse, Château La Mondotte, and Château Valandraud, also illustrate the ever-increasing quality of the region's growths. However, some châteaux are no longer classified, such as La Gaffelière (since 2022) and Magdelaine (since 2006). This constant renewal ensures the excellence and evolution of the Saint-Émilion vineyard, where tradition and innovation blend harmoniously.

Clos Fourtet embodies the perfect harmony between tradition and modernity, respect for the terroir and innovation. With elegant and complex wines, produced from environmentally friendly viticulture, the estate positions itself among the greatest in Saint-Émilion. The constant efforts of the Cuvelier family to raise the quality of the wines to their highest level result in cuvées that combine power, finesse and exceptional ageing potential.