Clos Fourtet Saint Emilion Grand Cru 2016 750ml

So amazingly nuanced, such elegance combined with ripeness, a vintage that many say is wonderful, as do I. Blackberry and dark cherry, cool blueberry and wet stone minerality delivered in a seamless palate, even more than the 2005 – at least at this tasting. Add to this the impressive concentration, and you get Yin and Yang. A bit of crushed tobacco lends freshness to a very long, cool and thoroughly classy finish.

• Country: France
• Region: Bordeaux
• Appellation: Saint Emilion
• Size: 750ml
• Color: Red
• Alcohol by Vol: 14.5%

Varietal

Red Bordeaux

There are few regions in the world with stricter regulations in regards to wine production and grape varietals than those found in Bordeaux, France. Here, in the home of the world’s finest wines, the type and quality of grapes used is of utmost importance, and the legendary wineries which work on the banks of the Gironde river have mastered the careful art of juice blending to find the perfect balance for their produce. Whilst there are six ‘official’ Bordeaux grapes, the two key varietals for almost every fine Bordeaux wine are Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, and with good reason. Whilst Cabernet Sauvignon grapes are renowned for their acidity and astringency, strong fruit and spice flavors and full body, Merlot grapes are notably rounded, soft, fleshy and lighter on tannin. The combination of these two varietals, along with a small percentage of (commonly) Petit Verdot or Cabernet Franc, is the perfect balancing act ”“ the two grape varietals cancel out each others weaker points, and accentuate all that is good about the other.