The highly anticipated Clos Fourtet 2023 has been released at GBP 840 (EUR 986) per 12×75, capturing attention in the wine world.
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW lauded the vintage as "a real head-turner," awarding it an impressive 95-97 points.
This year's release is part of the Bordeaux En Primeur campaign, priced at EUR 70 per bottle ex-négociant, a significant 25.5% reduction from the 2022 release (EUR 94 per bottle).
Pricing and Market Comparison
Clos Fourtet 2023 is being offered internationally for GBP 840 (EUR 986) per 12×75, mirroring the 25.5% decrease from the 2022's opening price of GBP 1,128 (EUR 1,325) per 12×75. This lower entry point provides an attractive opportunity for buyers, especially when compared to back vintages such as 2015, 2019, and 2020.
Back Vintage Opportunities:
- 2015 Vintage: Neal Martin's highest-scoring vintage of the past decade, rated 97 points, is available at GBP 870 (EUR 1,022) per 12×75. This vintage has appreciated by 21.7% from its original release price of GBP 715 (EUR 840), presenting good value for collectors.
- 2019 Vintage: Rated 98 points by Jane Anson, it is available at an 8.3% discount to the 2023 release, making it a compelling option for buyers.
- 2020 Vintage: With a market price of GBP 861 (EUR 1,011) and a rating of 95 points, this vintage also offers a reasonable alternative to the 2023 release.
Critical Acclaim
The 2023 vintage of Clos Fourtet has garnered praise from several notable critics:
- William Kelley (The Wine Advocate): Described the wine as "especially suave and refined," giving it a barrel score of 94-96 points.
- Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW (The Wine Independent): Awarded a barrel range of 95-97 points, highlighting the wine's "intense, vibrant red berry and baking spice flavors, supported by fine-grained tannins and jaw-dropping tension."
- James Lawther MW (Jancis Robinson): Noted the wine's "aromatically complex and enticing" character, scoring it 17+/20.
- Neal Martin (Vinous): Called the wine "superb" with a score of 92-94 points, and noted its "much more classically styled" nature compared to the 2022 vintage.
- Antonio Galloni (Vinous): Praised Clos Fourtet as a "benchmark example" from Saint-Émilion’s limestone plateau, awarding it 94-96 points.
- Jane Anson: Described the wine with notes of "fragrant white flowers, lime zest freshness, scraping pumice stone limestone feel, cassis and black cherry fruits," giving it a score of 95 points.
Conclusion
The release of Clos Fourtet 2023 at a reduced price point makes it an enticing prospect for both new buyers and seasoned collectors. The critical acclaim further underscores its potential as a standout vintage. For those seeking value, exploring back vintages like the 2015, 2019, and 2020 offers attractive alternatives with proven track records and favorable market positions.