×

Clos Fourtet Saint Emilion Grand Cru 2008 750ml

size
750ml
country
France
region
Bordeaux
appellation
Saint Emilion
DC
97
VM
93
WA
92
WE
92
WS
90
DC
97
Rated 97 by Decanter
Like the 2004, cool blue fruit with floral flourishes. But the 2008 has superior mid-palate concentration, revealing yet another underrated vintage that you should purchase, as it came before the 'sexier' 2009 vintage. Much like the 2003, the 2008 surprises - but for an opposite reason. It exudes admirably subtle power, the alcohol balanced by the acidity. 'This wine has superb complexity coming from a long growing season and steady maturity,' commented consultant Stephane Derenoncourt at the tasting, which he prefers to the 2009 vintage. I prefer the 2008, too, for reflecting even more the 'minerality' of the limestone plateau. ... More details
Image of bottle
Sample image only. Please see Item description for product Information. When ordering the item shipped will match the product listing if there are any discrepancies. Do not order solely on the label if you feel it does not match product description

Clos Fourtet Saint Emilion Grand Cru 2008 750ml

SKU 866985
Case Only Purchase
Long-term Pre-Arrival
$1523.40
/case
$126.95
/750ml bottle
Quantity
min order 12 bottles
* This is a Long-term Pre-arrival item and is available for online ordering only. This item will ship on a future date after a 4-8 months transfer time. For additional details about Pre-arrival Items please visit our FAQ page.
Professional Ratings
DC
97
VM
93
WA
92
WE
92
WS
90
DC
97
Rated 97 by Decanter
Like the 2004, cool blue fruit with floral flourishes. But the 2008 has superior mid-palate concentration, revealing yet another underrated vintage that you should purchase, as it came before the 'sexier' 2009 vintage. Much like the 2003, the 2008 surprises - but for an opposite reason. It exudes admirably subtle power, the alcohol balanced by the acidity. 'This wine has superb complexity coming from a long growing season and steady maturity,' commented consultant Stephane Derenoncourt at the tasting, which he prefers to the 2009 vintage. I prefer the 2008, too, for reflecting even more the 'minerality' of the limestone plateau.
VM
93
Rated 93 by Vinous Media
The 2008 Clos Fourtet has a tightly wound bouquet with raspberry, cranberry and light tertiary aromas, a touch of bell pepper in the background. The palate is medium-bodied with grippy tannin. This Clos Fourtet boasts impressive body, almost sinewy in style, a backward 2008 Saint Émilion from Mathieu Cuvelier although I was smitten by its persistent spicy aftertaste. It clearly deserves a couple more years in bottle. One to watch carefully. (Tasted at BI Wine & Spirit’s annual 10-Year On tasting.)
WA
92
Rated 92 by Wine Advocate
A strong effort, the 2008 was made from tiny yields of 28.5 hectoliters per hectare, and attained 14% natural alcohol. It reveals sweet licorice, black currant and blackberry fruit notes intermixed with truffle and asphalt characteristics in its pure, rich, opulent, full-bodied personality. One of the finest St.-Emilions of the vintage, it is far more accessible than the 2010 and should continue to drink well for 15-20 years.
WE
92
Rated 92 by Wine Enthusiast
Big, ripe and rich, with smoky bacon flavors as well as sweet tannins. The wine feels generous, the tannins cushioned.
WS
90
Rated 90 by Wine Spectator
Juicy, with a tasty mix of dark plum, crushed fig and blackberry fruit, followed by licorice, black tea and maduro tobacco. The long finish lets it all hang together nicely. Drink now through 2015. 3,330 cases made.
Product Details
size
750ml
country
France
region
Bordeaux
appellation
Saint Emilion
Overview
Like the 2004, cool blue fruit with floral flourishes. But the 2008 has superior mid-palate concentration, revealing yet another underrated vintage that you should purchase, as it came before the 'sexier' 2009 vintage. Much like the 2003, the 2008 surprises - but for an opposite reason. It exudes admirably subtle power, the alcohol balanced by the acidity. 'This wine has superb complexity coming from a long growing season and steady maturity,' commented consultant Stephane Derenoncourt at the tasting, which he prefers to the 2009 vintage. I prefer the 2008, too, for reflecting even more the 'minerality' of the limestone plateau.
barrel

Vintage: 2008

2008 saw very high yields across wineries in much of the southern hemisphere, as a result of highly favorable climatic conditions. Although in many areas, these high yields brought with them something of a drop in overall quality, this could not be said for South Australia's wines, which were reportedly excellent. Indeed, the 2008 Shiraz harvest in South Australia is said to be one of the most successful in recent decades, and western Australia's Chardonnays are set to be ones to watch out for. New Zealand's Pinot Noir harvest was also very good, with wineries in Martinborough reportedly very excited about this particular grape and the characteristics it revealed this year. Pinot Noir also grew very well in the United States, and was probably the most successful grape varietal to come out of California in 2008, with Sonoma Coast and Anderson Valley delivering fantastic results from this grape. Elsewhere in United States, Washington State and Oregon had highly successful harvests in 2008 despite some early worries about frost. However, it was France who had the best of the weather and growing conditions in 2008, and this year was one of the great vintages for Champagne, the Médoc in Bordeaux, Languedoc-Roussillon and Provence, with Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay grapes leading the way. Italy, too, shared many of these ideal conditions, with the wineries in Tuscany claiming that their Chianti Classicos of 2008 will be ones to collect, and Piedmont's Barberesco and Barolo wines will be recognized as amongst the finest of the past decade.
green grapes

Varietal: Red Bordeaux

The Bordeaux method of blending quality grape varietals is something which has long been imitated and envied around the world. Whilst there are six Bordeaux grape varietals allowed for the production of red wine in this region of France – Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Carménere – the most common and widely used combination involves a careful blend of the Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes, usually with a small percentage of Petit Verdot to boost the overall flavor and balance things out. This process accentuates the finer points of all these varietals, and takes the astringency of one type whilst rounding it out and mellowing it with the light tannins and fleshiness of another. The results are rarely short of spectacular, and are perfect for oak aging, where the flavorful magic of Bordeaux wine making can really take place, and the complex aromas and characteristics can truly come forward.
barrel

Region: Bordeaux

There are few wine regions in the world with a reputation as glowing and well established as that of the Bordeaux, in France. Situated mainly around the Dordogne and Gironde rivers, Bordeaux makes the most of its humid climate and rich, clay and gravel based soils to grow some of the finest examples of red and white grape varietals on earth. Wineries in this region have been in operation for hundreds of years, and have carefully developed the expertise required for the production of carefully balanced and utterly delicious blended red and white wines, alongside some exceptional single variety bottles. Many of the chateaux found in Bordeaux have become household names, due to their prestige and the excellence of their products, grown with love and dedication by heritage wineries in this beautiful and special region.
fields

Country: France

France is renowned across the globe for its quality wines and the careful expertise which goes into making them, but what is truly remarkable about this relatively small country is the vast range of wines it produces in such huge amounts each year. Not only are the finest red wines in the world said to come from the beautiful regions of Bordeaux and Burgundy, but elsewhere in the country we find the Champagne region, and areas such as the Rhone Valley and the Loire, whose white wines consistently receive awards and accolades by the plenty. This range is a result of the great variety of climatic conditions and terrain found in France, coupled with generations of wine makers working within single appellations. Their knowledge of specific terroirs and grape varieties has, over time, perfected the production of wines within their region, and the end results continue to impress the world to this day.
bottle and glass

Appellation: Saint Emilion

The sub-region of Saint Emilion in France's beautiful and world renowned Bordeaux region is recognized across the globe by wine experts as one of the planet's premier wine producing areas. Saint Emilion is primarily associated with the production of high quality, characterful and flavorful blended red wines, and the blending techniques and methods used in the dozens of chateaus of the region have been passed down through the generations to maintain the reputation and popularity Saint Emilion enjoys. Most of the wines made in Saint Emilion use Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot grapes to superb effect, balancing each varietal's finest points and ensuring the resulting wine is one which is complex, delicious, unique, and one which does justice to the excellent grapes which grow there.
Customer Reviews
Customer Reviews

There have been no reviews for this product.

More wines available from Clos Fourtet
Long-term Pre-Arrival
365ml - 1 Bottle
Bottle: $51.57
Long-term Pre-Arrival
750ml - 1 Bottle
Bottle: $172.19
Long-term Pre-Arrival
750ml - 1 Bottle
Bottle: $189.62
Made from 85% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2005 Clos Fourtet is a powerhouse that...
JD
99
DC
98
Long-term Pre-Arrival
1.5Ltr - 1 Bottle
Bottle: $255.35
Tasted at Bordeaux Index's annual 10-Year On tasting in London.The 2006 Clos Fourtet has a ripe, forward kirsch and...
WA
93
WE
92
Long-term Pre-Arrival
1.5Ltr - 1 Bottle
Bottle: $588.95
The greatest Clos Fourtet I've ever tasted, eclipsing the heavenly 2005 and 2015, the 2009 Château Clos Fourtet...
JD
100
DC
97
More Details
Winery Clos Fourtet
barrel

Vintage: 2008

2008 saw very high yields across wineries in much of the southern hemisphere, as a result of highly favorable climatic conditions. Although in many areas, these high yields brought with them something of a drop in overall quality, this could not be said for South Australia's wines, which were reportedly excellent. Indeed, the 2008 Shiraz harvest in South Australia is said to be one of the most successful in recent decades, and western Australia's Chardonnays are set to be ones to watch out for. New Zealand's Pinot Noir harvest was also very good, with wineries in Martinborough reportedly very excited about this particular grape and the characteristics it revealed this year. Pinot Noir also grew very well in the United States, and was probably the most successful grape varietal to come out of California in 2008, with Sonoma Coast and Anderson Valley delivering fantastic results from this grape. Elsewhere in United States, Washington State and Oregon had highly successful harvests in 2008 despite some early worries about frost. However, it was France who had the best of the weather and growing conditions in 2008, and this year was one of the great vintages for Champagne, the Médoc in Bordeaux, Languedoc-Roussillon and Provence, with Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay grapes leading the way. Italy, too, shared many of these ideal conditions, with the wineries in Tuscany claiming that their Chianti Classicos of 2008 will be ones to collect, and Piedmont's Barberesco and Barolo wines will be recognized as amongst the finest of the past decade.
green grapes

Varietal: Red Bordeaux

The Bordeaux method of blending quality grape varietals is something which has long been imitated and envied around the world. Whilst there are six Bordeaux grape varietals allowed for the production of red wine in this region of France – Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Carménere – the most common and widely used combination involves a careful blend of the Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes, usually with a small percentage of Petit Verdot to boost the overall flavor and balance things out. This process accentuates the finer points of all these varietals, and takes the astringency of one type whilst rounding it out and mellowing it with the light tannins and fleshiness of another. The results are rarely short of spectacular, and are perfect for oak aging, where the flavorful magic of Bordeaux wine making can really take place, and the complex aromas and characteristics can truly come forward.
barrel

Region: Bordeaux

There are few wine regions in the world with a reputation as glowing and well established as that of the Bordeaux, in France. Situated mainly around the Dordogne and Gironde rivers, Bordeaux makes the most of its humid climate and rich, clay and gravel based soils to grow some of the finest examples of red and white grape varietals on earth. Wineries in this region have been in operation for hundreds of years, and have carefully developed the expertise required for the production of carefully balanced and utterly delicious blended red and white wines, alongside some exceptional single variety bottles. Many of the chateaux found in Bordeaux have become household names, due to their prestige and the excellence of their products, grown with love and dedication by heritage wineries in this beautiful and special region.
fields

Country: France

France is renowned across the globe for its quality wines and the careful expertise which goes into making them, but what is truly remarkable about this relatively small country is the vast range of wines it produces in such huge amounts each year. Not only are the finest red wines in the world said to come from the beautiful regions of Bordeaux and Burgundy, but elsewhere in the country we find the Champagne region, and areas such as the Rhone Valley and the Loire, whose white wines consistently receive awards and accolades by the plenty. This range is a result of the great variety of climatic conditions and terrain found in France, coupled with generations of wine makers working within single appellations. Their knowledge of specific terroirs and grape varieties has, over time, perfected the production of wines within their region, and the end results continue to impress the world to this day.
bottle and glass

Appellation: Saint Emilion

The sub-region of Saint Emilion in France's beautiful and world renowned Bordeaux region is recognized across the globe by wine experts as one of the planet's premier wine producing areas. Saint Emilion is primarily associated with the production of high quality, characterful and flavorful blended red wines, and the blending techniques and methods used in the dozens of chateaus of the region have been passed down through the generations to maintain the reputation and popularity Saint Emilion enjoys. Most of the wines made in Saint Emilion use Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot grapes to superb effect, balancing each varietal's finest points and ensuring the resulting wine is one which is complex, delicious, unique, and one which does justice to the excellent grapes which grow there.