La Closerie de Fourtet 2023

Finely spicy, peppery, herbal, red fruit; velvety on the palate, you want to swallow right away, the fruit is crisp, and the powdery tannins provide drive and length. An excellent Saint-Émilion for little money.

Ripe and sweet damsons on the nose, dark fruit and some floral hints – quite an expressive nose. Supple and agile, with nice energy and lovely succulence of cool blue fruit with some ripe red cherries. Really juicy but not lean or too high in acidity. Easy to enjoy. Lifted, fresh, no rough edges. No harshness; everything is balanced and harmonious. A light but enjoyable glass. 15% of the massal-selection Cabernet Franc went into this blend, with some grapes from the limestone plateau making their wine into this second wine for the first time. Ageing: 20% new oak, then one- and two-year barrels.

Licorice, flower, and cherries fill the wine in the nose, and on the medium-bodied, forward, fresh, and sweet, palate making this simply delicious on release. The wine was made from blending 85% Merlot, with 15% Cabernet Franc. The wine comes from a parcel selection. Drink from 2026-2032.

Score: 89–91. A deep, unusual nose of juicy black fruits and licorice. On the palate, the wine feels very zen and balanced, with lovely fluidity and good length.

A lovely airy nose offering precise texture and a certain power, all in perfect balance. Notes of juicy blackberry, juicy wild blackcurrant and, more lightly, blueberry mingle with touches of fresh Madagascar pepper, a hint of violet, blueberry and a subtle touch of spice. The palate is nicely fresh, mineral and balanced, with pleasing juiciness, indulgence, a bright tangy line, energy, harmony, a pulpy feel and tension. Lovely freshness and fruit vibrancy. On the palate, the wine shows juicy/pulpy blackberry, juicy/vibrant raspberry and, more lightly, juicy/fresh purple plum, with touches of blueberry and a subtle hint of star anise and toasted almond. Good length. A subtle mellow note and a nicely savoury character on the finish/persistence.

A delicious Closerie, with some of the vines from Les Grandes Murailles now included. Combines momentum and sappy fruit with mint leaf, slate and campfire smoke, fresh acidities. 15% new oak, 2% amphora.

A friendly red, showing a mix of black cherry and red currant fruit that melds with gently warmed anise and singed cedar notes. Approachable, with a hint of grain through the finish. Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink now through 2031. 3,333 cases made, 200 cases imported.