Soft rose-petal pink, less intensity than the more celebrated vintages but this is also where the impact of the limestone terroir really comes in use, as it gives a subtle and distinct oyster-shell salinity that adds interest and poise. Ready to drink but still very much in its window, this is really a 2013 to look out for, full of pleasure, with soft tannins, raspberry puree fruit, with roses and cold ash coming in waves on the finish. Very pretty, one to allow yourself to be surprised by. 60% new oak. Stephane Derenoncourt and Jean-Claude Berrouet consultants.

The 2013 Clos Fourtet opens with beguiling aromatics. Smoke, slate and new leather meld into a core of dark fruit as this sumptuous St. Emilion opens up in the glass. One of the richer, more resonant wines of the vintage, the Clos Fourtet impresses for its volume and pure breadth. The perfumed, limestone-inflected finish is distinctly Burgundian in its essence. The 2013 finishes with notable sweetness and density for the year. There is a lot to like here. Sadly, production is down 50%. The blend is 88% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc. Tasted two times.

Good deep ruby. Expressive aromas of blackcurrant, tobacco, mocha, dried flowers, minerals and truffle. Sweet, dense and seamless, with rich, dense, multilayered flavors of red fruits, minerals and flowers. Finishes with suave tannins and an aromatic leafy note. Excellent potential here.

The 2013 Clos Fourtet was picked between September 30 and October 14 at a paltry 18 hl/ha. This has a light and leafy nose as expected, with hints of mocha and brown spices, missing some fruit but at least there is freshness. The palate is nicely balanced, a little hollow and lacking grip, yet it is redeemed by a sense of elegance on the finish. Enjoy this now. Tasted at the Clos Fourtet vertical in April 2023.