This has started emerging from its youth and already offers a luscious expression of black, and red fruits, licorice, salt, and flowers. The wine is rich, deep, concentrated, long, and silky, with a finish that easily hits the 50-second mark. Drink from-2023-2050.
Bordeaux 2022 en Primeur and some recent vintages: Like Troplong Mondot, Clos Fourtet is often a bit too heavy for me personally. The moderate 2016 vintage therefore plays into the hands of this wine. Elegant palate, nice blue fruit, still quite a bit of wood. Mineral finish. Better than the 2020 and 2022.
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Showing St. Emilion right off the bat. A big showing of black raspberry from the Merlot, with excellent make and balance. A very, very "well made" wine. Though its cozy and plush, its not overly rich. The tannins on this are right where they need to be for the fruit balance, and as a matter of fact, everything is in the right place. So much so, that its a bit boring. Im scoring this based on wine quality and not my preference for Bordeaux. It doest check Bordeaux boxes for me at all, but it is delicious. Ready...Drink
14.5% ABV. Deep ruby apperance. Coravin pour, no decant.
Immediate and focused attack of fruit on the nose - blackberry, blueberry, black plum. Notes of chocolate, clove, crushed rock, and some sous bois comes through underneath all the fruit. Dense on the palate. Nice acidity with medium+ but round tannins at this point. Long finish. A touch of heat detected from the higher alcohol levels.
This is by no means unbalanced or overdone, but it leans on more of a hedonistic and opulent style (dare I say Napa-esque?). Is it a style that I truly love? Probably not. However, you can't deny the craftsmanship behind this wine. In its early drinking window and open for business now in my opinion.
I love how fresh and lush the fruit-forward nose is here, fresh yet slightly liqueur-like, damson and blueberry, bitter dark chocolate. There’s some heat on the palate which holds this back and stops it from really popping but it’s not egregious.
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This bottle was a shy guy throughout most of consumption. After three hours with the cork off and swirling in the glass, it found depth and a dollop of richness. Otherwise, it was in the friend zone for most of the date. The end of the evening was nice, with final sips being the best, but not as captivating as the prior bottle. Try again in 2026.
Blackberry, cassis, cardamom; smooth, succulent, intense, compact, dense, precise, engaging and alluring, with the after-taste being yet further mouth-watering with each subsequent sip; yet also closed and somewhat ungenerous still; well-constructed and excellent but, unsurprisingly, best to wait After two hours: nose is similar; on palate a bit more dynamic with similar opening but more linear and focused finish and then with a sudden powerful close; overall an interesting experience but clearly too young and too closed; a certain evolving quality but just not quite pleasing enough yet in terms of realizing its full potential
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Nose: Dark and vivid blue and black fruits, great amount of fruits initially, then followed by some nice rustic oak, forest floor, tree leaves and soft undergrowth with dark flowers. Creamy, dark red fruits show up with some time and some swirling. A dark and serious yet pretty nose. There's a slight smoke after a long while but that could just be me.
Palate: Concentrated, deep earth, similar but firmer rustic oak from the nose accompanied by a strong minerally spice. The dark red fruits is well interlaced in the middle of everything though not faint by any means. There's also some graphite within the minerals, slightly savory and some bitterness like black tea.
Dark ruby color. Dry with medium to medium-plus amounts of firm, chewy tannins. Medium body with medium to medium-plus acidity, it's well hidden if it's on the higher end. Great finish of about 20+ seconds. This is well made. All notes were noted from the pour at a cooler temperature of around 57°. But with some time in the glass and coming to room temperature, this is like a slick dark beast but the type you eventually like by the end of a movie. Great nose from the pour. Rich flavors of savory minerals, oak and earth. Velvety in texture. 94-95 but admitting some bias here, and this is probably due to the cold weather but it was slightly too oaky with minerals.
Other details: No decant, time in glass only. Bordeaux glass. Served around 57°. No food prior for at least 5+ hours. Wine eventually came to room temperature around 63° that resulted in being slightly less high-toned.
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Blackberry, deep black raspberry, black currant, black licorice, espresso, dark spice, scortched earth, and chewy dark chocolate. Hedonistic without ever being heavy or burdensome. A perfect execution of flavor for such a young wine, with a silky smooth mouthfeel that completely caresses the palate. Finishes medium with a plush, slow burn of dark chocolatey black fruit that elongates the tail.
With just a bit of air in the glass, this sultry temptress was ready to go shortly after the cork was popped. A totally indulgent and beautifully crafted creature. Sexy indeed, with an alluring texture that really adds to the sophistication. Time in bottle will certainly add complexity and nuance, but the party has already started here.
97-98++ points. I know purists will say to wait, but I was starting to get down with this first date from the initial sips. Potential perfect score in 5+ years.
Deep in color, the wine is lush, fresh, polished and deep. There is a sweetness to the smoky, dark red berries that pairs nicely with its natural freshness. The perfume offers espresso, flowers, licorice, and dark red fruits. But the real joy comes from the palate, due to the silky textures and juicy freshness in the fruit. Give this at least a decade and enjoy it over the following 20-25 years.
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Shy on the nose, closed, but there's something brooding here, cinnamon, bitter almond, star anise, wet undergrowth. Smells expensive, smells of Right Bank quality. Great Merlot fruit on the palate, sweet Asian spice, plenty of fruit but it is subdued (as it should be) by a plentiful of that savoury alluring mystery. Chewy, fresh on the palate, giving hints of greatness to come. This is like the perfect date. Intoxicating first glimpses of wonderful things to come.
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The nose exudes floral notes of great finesse. We are on the violet, the black fruits. Body splendid, slender, perfectly cut, with a remarkable tannin. Very long finish. Wine largely underestimated, IMHO
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This stunner keeps getting better and better. The wine has gained in richness and intensity. The ripe, sweet, luscious plums, licorice, smoke and dark chocolate notes are singing. Concentrated, silky and opulent, this should age for decades.
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BBR 2016 Bordeaux tasting (London): Licorice and soft ripe fruit on the nose. The mouth feel is very silky with relatively soft tannin. Fantastic balance and lingering finish. 94-96p
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Tasted next to the 2012. Spicy, rich, glossy with lots of concentration and generousity, but better balance than the 2012. Good acidity; polished, well integrated tannins. Long. 92-93+
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En primeur tasting of a barrel sample at Lords earlier this month. Was rushing to get around as the tasting ended so only noted a score and 'big, fantastic'!
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Smoky with licorice, violets, lilacs, cigar wrapper and dark fruits, this wine is silky and structured, precise and polished, concentrated and fresh. The finish has all this great juice that moves from black to red fruits, to spice and then sweetness and back again. The wine was produced from a blend of 90% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Cabernet Franc, reaching 14% alcohol with a pH of 3.35. The harvest took place October 4 to October 20.
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9/19/2023 - Jeff Leve wrote: 97 Points
This has started emerging from its youth and already offers a luscious expression of black, and red fruits, licorice, salt, and flowers. The wine is rich, deep, concentrated, long, and silky, with a finish that easily hits the 50-second mark. Drink from-2023-2050.
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5/14/2023 - Collector1855 wrote: 94 Points
Bordeaux 2022 en Primeur and some recent vintages: Like Troplong Mondot, Clos Fourtet is often a bit too heavy for me personally. The moderate 2016 vintage therefore plays into the hands of this wine. Elegant palate, nice blue fruit, still quite a bit of wood. Mineral finish. Better than the 2020 and 2022.
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3/2/2023 - Purple Tooth wrote: 94 Points
Showing St. Emilion right off the bat. A big showing of black raspberry from the Merlot, with excellent make and balance. A very, very "well made" wine. Though its cozy and plush, its not overly rich. The tannins on this are right where they need to be for the fruit balance, and as a matter of fact, everything is in the right place. So much so, that its a bit boring. Im scoring this based on wine quality and not my preference for Bordeaux. It doest check Bordeaux boxes for me at all, but it is delicious. Ready...Drink
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2/19/2023 - iBurg1229 Likes this wine: 94 Points
14.5% ABV. Deep ruby apperance. Coravin pour, no decant.
Immediate and focused attack of fruit on the nose - blackberry, blueberry, black plum. Notes of chocolate, clove, crushed rock, and some sous bois comes through underneath all the fruit. Dense on the palate. Nice acidity with medium+ but round tannins at this point. Long finish. A touch of heat detected from the higher alcohol levels.
This is by no means unbalanced or overdone, but it leans on more of a hedonistic and opulent style (dare I say Napa-esque?). Is it a style that I truly love? Probably not. However, you can't deny the craftsmanship behind this wine. In its early drinking window and open for business now in my opinion.
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7/8/2022 - englishman's claret wrote: 94 Points
I love how fresh and lush the fruit-forward nose is here, fresh yet slightly liqueur-like, damson and blueberry, bitter dark chocolate. There’s some heat on the palate which holds this back and stops it from really popping but it’s not egregious.
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12/20/2021 - csimm wrote: 94 Points
This bottle was a shy guy throughout most of consumption. After three hours with the cork off and swirling in the glass, it found depth and a dollop of richness. Otherwise, it was in the friend zone for most of the date. The end of the evening was nice, with final sips being the best, but not as captivating as the prior bottle. Try again in 2026.
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6/16/2021 - wineappreciation wrote: 93 Points
Blackberry, cassis, cardamom; smooth, succulent, intense, compact, dense, precise, engaging and alluring, with the after-taste being yet further mouth-watering with each subsequent sip; yet also closed and somewhat ungenerous still; well-constructed and excellent but, unsurprisingly, best to wait
After two hours: nose is similar; on palate a bit more dynamic with similar opening but more linear and focused finish and then with a sudden powerful close; overall an interesting experience but clearly too young and too closed; a certain evolving quality but just not quite pleasing enough yet in terms of realizing its full potential
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1/28/2020 - Quiet Lion Likes this wine: 94 Points
Still very young but with some air, luscious dark fruit with firm tannins and good structure. 94+
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11/1/2019 - WineBurrowingWombat Likes this wine: 94 Points
Nose: Dark and vivid blue and black fruits, great amount of fruits initially, then followed by some nice rustic oak, forest floor, tree leaves and soft undergrowth with dark flowers. Creamy, dark red fruits show up with some time and some swirling. A dark and serious yet pretty nose. There's a slight smoke after a long while but that could just be me.
Palate: Concentrated, deep earth, similar but firmer rustic oak from the nose accompanied by a strong minerally spice. The dark red fruits is well interlaced in the middle of everything though not faint by any means. There's also some graphite within the minerals, slightly savory and some bitterness like black tea.
Dark ruby color. Dry with medium to medium-plus amounts of firm, chewy tannins. Medium body with medium to medium-plus acidity, it's well hidden if it's on the higher end. Great finish of about 20+ seconds. This is well made. All notes were noted from the pour at a cooler temperature of around 57°. But with some time in the glass and coming to room temperature, this is like a slick dark beast but the type you eventually like by the end of a movie. Great nose from the pour. Rich flavors of savory minerals, oak and earth. Velvety in texture. 94-95 but admitting some bias here, and this is probably due to the cold weather but it was slightly too oaky with minerals.
Other details: No decant, time in glass only. Bordeaux glass. Served around 57°. No food prior for at least 5+ hours. Wine eventually came to room temperature around 63° that resulted in being slightly less high-toned.
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10/29/2019 - csimm wrote: 98 Points
Blackberry, deep black raspberry, black currant, black licorice, espresso, dark spice, scortched earth, and chewy dark chocolate. Hedonistic without ever being heavy or burdensome. A perfect execution of flavor for such a young wine, with a silky smooth mouthfeel that completely caresses the palate. Finishes medium with a plush, slow burn of dark chocolatey black fruit that elongates the tail.
With just a bit of air in the glass, this sultry temptress was ready to go shortly after the cork was popped. A totally indulgent and beautifully crafted creature. Sexy indeed, with an alluring texture that really adds to the sophistication. Time in bottle will certainly add complexity and nuance, but the party has already started here.
97-98++ points. I know purists will say to wait, but I was starting to get down with this first date from the initial sips. Potential perfect score in 5+ years.
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9/21/2019 - Jeff Leve wrote: 97 Points
Deep in color, the wine is lush, fresh, polished and deep. There is a sweetness to the smoky, dark red berries that pairs nicely with its natural freshness. The perfume offers espresso, flowers, licorice, and dark red fruits. But the real joy comes from the palate, due to the silky textures and juicy freshness in the fruit. Give this at least a decade and enjoy it over the following 20-25 years.
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6/13/2019 - Timbalimba wrote: 95 Points
Shy on the nose, closed, but there's something brooding here, cinnamon, bitter almond, star anise, wet undergrowth. Smells expensive, smells of Right Bank quality. Great Merlot fruit on the palate, sweet Asian spice, plenty of fruit but it is subdued (as it should be) by a plentiful of that savoury alluring mystery. Chewy, fresh on the palate, giving hints of greatness to come. This is like the perfect date. Intoxicating first glimpses of wonderful things to come.
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2/25/2019 - Zweder wrote: 94 Points
UCGB tasting Bordeaux 2016 (Beurs van Berlage, Amsterdam.): Sweet start with a lot of ripe dark berries and cherries, good acidity and a firm amount of sticky, round tannin and bitterness. 93 - 94 for now.
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2/25/2019 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 93 Points
Amsterdam UGCB Tasting and Winemakers' Dinner (Beurs van Berlage / Café De Klepel): Quite closed on the nose, firmly structured palate, very tannic but there is a lovely airy quality to the finish. Needs time but will be very good. My score may prove conservative.
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2/25/2019 - FransS wrote: 97 Points
The 2016 vintage UGCB tasting in Amsterdam 2/25/2019; 2/25/2019-2/27/2019 (Amsterdam): Difficult to assess this wine; quite closed (like Haut-Bailly); concentrated, deep and a very convincing and very long aftertaste. This wine needs a long sleep in the cellar.
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2/14/2019 - Ramonee Confit Likes this wine: 98 Points
Le meilleur gouté à ce jour, encore mieux que le 2009
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2/14/2019 - watcheslover Likes this wine: 99 Points
The nose exudes floral notes of great finesse. We are on the violet, the black fruits. Body splendid, slender, perfectly cut, with a remarkable tannin. Very long finish.
Wine largely underestimated, IMHO
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1/25/2019 - rjonwine@gmail.com wrote: 92 Points
Dark ruby color; aromatic, cedar, cassis, plum nose; silky textured, plum, cassis, cedar palate with good balancing acidity; medium-plus finish (90% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet Franc) 92+ points
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1/25/2019 - drwine2001 wrote:
Selective Sampling of the UGC Tasting of 2016 Bordeaux (Metreon, San Francisco): Some funk here. Ripe berries, spicy, and tannic. Not quite as big boned as La Dominique though.
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1/21/2019 - tomoem Likes this wine: 94 Points
Zachys Grands Crus de Bordeaux 2016 (New York City, NY): Fabulous wine. Forward, visocous, and dry. Worthy of holding for 10+ years. Now it is slightly closed but contains all of the wares of a great wine.
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5/21/2018 - Jeff Leve wrote: 97 Points
This stunner keeps getting better and better. The wine has gained in richness and intensity. The ripe, sweet, luscious plums, licorice, smoke and dark chocolate notes are singing. Concentrated, silky and opulent, this should age for decades.
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7/5/2017 - Mascarello59 Likes this wine: 95 Points
BBR 2016 Bordeaux tasting (London): Licorice and soft ripe fruit on the nose. The mouth feel is very silky with relatively soft tannin. Fantastic balance and lingering finish. 94-96p
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7/5/2017 - rossi.wine wrote: 93 Points
Tasted next to the 2012. Spicy, rich, glossy with lots of concentration and generousity, but better balance than the 2012. Good acidity; polished, well integrated tannins. Long. 92-93+
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5/30/2017 - wineforth Likes this wine: 97 Points
En primeur tasting of a barrel sample at Lords earlier this month.
Was rushing to get around as the tasting ended so only noted a score and 'big, fantastic'!
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4/29/2017 - Jeff Leve wrote: 96 Points
Smoky with licorice, violets, lilacs, cigar wrapper and dark fruits, this wine is silky and structured, precise and polished, concentrated and fresh. The finish has all this great juice that moves from black to red fruits, to spice and then sweetness and back again. The wine was produced from a blend of 90% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Cabernet Franc, reaching 14% alcohol with a pH of 3.35. The harvest took place October 4 to October 20.
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