1990 Clos Fourtet

The 1990 Clos Fourtet is a little underwhelming in context of the vintage. The nose is short on vigour: diffuse and lacking the fruit you would expect in such a generous growing season. The palate is a little dry and missing cohesion, landing with a soft, tobacco-tinged finish that doesn't exactly tempt you back for more. Tasted July 2008.

The 1990 is shaping up as the finest effort in decades from this well-known producer. It reveals an impressively deep black/ruby color, and a dramatic nose of black fruits, smoke, roasted nuts, flowers, and herbs. Medium to full-bodied, with a succulent texture and impressive concentration, this tannic and structured Clos Fourtet has a heady, concentrated, multi-dimensional finish. Bravo! Anticipated maturity: 1994-2010.

Outstanding. Dark ruby color, with gorgeous aromas of tobacco, chocolate, berry and grilled meat. Full-bodied and very concentrated, with wonderfully velvety tannins and a long, long, decadent finish. Superb.--1990 Bordeaux retrospective. Best from 2005 through 2015. 5,000 cases made. James Suckling, Wine Spectator 2000