Clos St. Martin St. Emilion Bordeaux Wine
Sophie Fourcade Clos St. Martin
Clos St. Martin St. Emilion, Bordeaux wine producer profile, with wine tasting notes, wine ratings, a history of the property, information on wine making and terroir, along with wine tasting reviews. If you want to read about other important, Bordeaux Chateaux: Links to all Bordeaux Wine Producer Profiles
Clos St. Martin was managed by Sophie Fourcade for the Rieffers family for years. Fourcade gave up her promising career as a successful attorney to make Bordeaux wine at the families three properties in St. Emilion. Sophie is also in charge of two other St. Emilion estates, Chateau Les Grandes Murailles and Chateau Cote de Baleau. That changed in March, 2013, when the Cuvelier family, the owners of Chateau Clos Fourtet, headed by Matthieu Cuvelier, purchased the property.
Clos St. Martin with its 1.33-hectare vineyard is the smallest classified Bordeaux wine in St. Emilion. In fact, it’s also the smallest classified Bordeaux wine I know of. But good things come in small packages.
The style of Clos St. Martin is sensuous. Its round, opulent, soft textures are coupled with plums, dark berries, licorice and minerality. Vintages prior to 2000 are not produced in the same style. 2005 Clos St. Martin remains the finest wine this estate has ever produced. While difficult to find, it’s worth the effort to locate at least a few bottles.
Clos St. Martin is located near the St. Martin Church, which is where the name comes from. The Bordeaux vineyard of Clos St. Martin is planted to 70% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon in a mix of clay and limestone soils on the limestone plateau. Clos St. Martin is in a great neighborhood with neighbors like Chateau Canon, Chateau Beau-Sejour Becot and Chateau Beausejour Duffau.
Consulted by Michel Rolland, Clos St. Martin undergoes an eight-day pre-fermentation, cold maceration at 8° Celsius. The must is fermented in 100% new oak barrels with a 48-day maceration period. Malolactic fermentation is conducted in 100% new oak barrels with the first four months spent on the lees that are stirred twice a week. Clos St. Martin is aged in 100% new oak barrels from a total of eight different coopers for close to 20 months.
Starting with the 2008 vintage, Clos St. Martin will be fermented in 100% new oak, then placed back in the same barrel to add additional freshness and a softer feel to this unique St. Emilion wine. Most vintages produce about 500 cases per year of Clos St. Martin. sadly, for fans of the wine, portions of the vineyards are currently being replanted, so the production is even smaller than usual for Chateau Clos St. Martin.
http://www.lesgrandesmurailles.fr
Wine Tasting Notes
Displaying 17 vintages | 41785 Views Sorted by vintage
-
2012 Château Clos St. Martin
-
Blending 70% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, the wine reached 14% alcohol, with a pH of 3.76. Coffee bean, licorice and jammy cherries open to a silky, sensuous, lush, black cherry filled, spicy wine. The final vintage made by Sophie Fourcade. 91-93 Pts
92 points - Tasted Apr 26, 2013
329 Views
-
-
2011 Château Clos St. Martin
-
The production is always tiny, but with the combination of only 20% of the vineyard being replanted and a difficult vintage, less than 500 cases will be made of the 2011. From 70% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, the wine is aged in 100% new oak. Coffee, floral, black plum, earth and smoky barbecue aromas open to a supple-textured, round, sweet, black cherry-filled wine. 91-93 Pts
92 points - Tasted Apr 24, 2012
832 Views
-
-
2010 Château Clos St. Martin
-
2010 Clos St. Martin, the smallest classified wine in the Bordeaux appellation comes from a 1.33-hectare vineyard. Planted to 7,000 vines/ha, with an average age of 31 years. The terroir is planted on clay and limestone soils over the limestone plateau. Smoke, mineral, licorice, oak, and jammy berry scents open to a supple, ripe, silky textured concentrated wine ends with a long fresh, black cherry, spice and licorice finish. 94-95 Pts
94 points - Tasted Apr 22, 2011
1674 Views
-
-
2009 Château Clos St. Martin
-
Sporting a deep ruby hue, truffle, smoke, black cherry liqueur, plum and vanilla scents lead the way to silk and velvet drenched, opulent, polished wine. Lush and sweet, there is a lot of purity found in the sweet, plush, long, sensuous finish.
95 points - Tasted May 1, 2012
1617 Views -
2009 Clos St. Martin is the smallest classified wine in the Bordeaux appellation. It comes from a 1.33 hectare vineyard planted 7,000 vines/ha on clay and limestone soils. The vines have an average age of 31 years. The wine is filled with spicy dark fruit, anise, stone, plum, and espresso scents. This richly textured, sultry wine was produced from 75% merlot, 15% cabernet franc, and 10% cabernet sauvignon. The wine ends with black cherries infused with anise. 92-95 Pts
94 points - Tasted Jun 28, 2010
1752 Views
-
-
2008 Château Clos St. Martin
-
2008 Clos St. Martin opens with an enticing perfume of dark berries, mint, minerality, licorice, cherry blossoms and sweet oak. The texture feels like polished silk and velvet. This sensual wine ends with a long sensation of fresh, ripe blackberries. Only 480 cases were produced. 94 Pts
94 points - Tasted Jul 18, 2010
1840 Views -
08 Château Clos St. Martin. This château, situated close to Angelus, Beau-Sejour Becot, and Beausejour Duffau, provides a hit in 2008. With clay and limestone soil and a southwest exposure, the château never produces more than 600 cases in any vintage. In 08 it produced only 460 cases. Starting with 2008, the wine will be fermented in new oak, then placed back in the same barrel to add additional freshness and a softer feel to the fruit. The wine, with its dark ruby and purple hue, has a complex perfume of minerals, black fruit, raspberry, forest, and oak. In the mouth, good structure and ample concentration of ripe fruit. The wine finishes with a blast of blackberry liquor and kirsch. 93-96 Pts
94 points - Tasted Jul 1, 2009
1850 Views
-
-
2006 Château Clos St. Martin
-
Dominated by red fruit, earth, spice and black raspberries, this medium bodied, lighter styled wine is rapidly maturing and should be enjoyed sooner than later.
88 points - Tasted Mar 12, 2012
994 Views
-
-
2005 Château Clos St. Martin
-
This wine has it all. Incredible concentration of ripe dark, fruit, a perfume that knocks you out and an incredible, plush, velvety, mouth feel that reaches into every nook and cranny of your palate. This special Bordeaux wine defines decadence. The dark chocolate covered blackberry, licorice tinged finish was further complicated with a hint of blueberry and seems to go on for over sixty seconds!
97 points - Tasted Jun 21, 2009
3096 Views -
Deep, opaque in color. A haunting perfume and an incredible, lush, mouthfilling sensation packed with so much glycerin, this Bordeaux wine over takes your senses. If you're into texture, this wine will blow you away! The melange of black, red and plum flavors are further complicated with a hint of blue fruit that creeps in. After being open for a few hours, the wine gained in structure. The tannins are extremely fine. I would have scored this higher, but, there was another wine I liked even more. Only 600 cases of this sublime wine were produced. If this intellectual sex bomb of a wine sounds like your cup of tea, but it sooner than later as it is only going to become harder to find and more expensive.
97 points - Tasted Jun 6, 2008
2650 Views
-
-
2004 Château Clos St. Martin
-
Complex, spicy ripe fruit and anise aromatics pairs perfectly with a rich, silky entry and the long, fresh, ripe, opulent plummy finish.
91 points - Tasted Jun 21, 2009
1345 Views
-
-
2003 Château Clos St. Martin
-
Medium bodied and already fully mature, this light style of wine needs to be drunk up.
87 points - Tasted Jun 21, 2009
1131 Views
-
-
2002 Château Clos St. Martin
-
Light in the nose, this medium bodied wine offers some ripe dark fruit with a slightly drying finish.
88 points - Tasted Jun 21, 2009
1240 Views
-
-
2001 Château Clos St. Martin
-
Smoke, caramel, truffle, black cherry, fresh herbs, chocolate and earthy aromas open to a fully mature St. Emilon. Soft,supple, round and lush, with no hard edges, the finish is pure, sweet cherries with hints of chocolate, mocha and minerality. This was tasted with about 10 minutes of air. A long decanting will not help this wine. While I doubt the wine is going to develop additional complexities from this point forward, there is no hurry to drink it. I'd look to drink it over the next 5-8 years.
92 points - Tasted Sep 29, 2012
1143 Views -
Fennel, juicy plums, mushroom, chocolate and blackberry aromas meshed perfectly with the soft, plush, round textures and the sexy, chocolate covered blackberry finish. This is close to mature and should be consumed before by the time the wine hits 20. While a very successful and delicious Bordeaux wine, I am not sure it's going to make old bones.
92 points - Tasted Jul 22, 2011
1967 Views -
Licorice, chocolate, black raspberry jam, plum, coffee and hints of vanilla scents make up the perfume. The wine offers plush, sexy, edible textures that and a blast of licorice covered black and red fruits in the finish
93 points - Tasted Jan 11, 2011
2082 Views -
In quality, tis not that far from the stellar 2000! The exotic perfume pops from the glass with earthy, spicy, soy and back fruit aromas. Lush and concentrated on the palate. The wine finishes with a blast of fresh, ripe dark fruit and opulent textures.
93 points - Tasted Jun 21, 2009
1998 Views
-
-
2000 Château Clos St. Martin
-
If you're seeking sex, silk and velvet, look no further. This supple, hedonistic wine is packed with vanilla, licorice, black cherry liqueur and truffles. Rich, concentrated and without a single hard edge, while this St. Emilion will improve, there is no reason to delay experiencing its ample charms.
95 points - Tasted Feb 21, 2012
1495 Views -
Silk, elegance and ripe fruit are the hallmarks of this Bordeaux wine. Dark berries, minerality and juicy plums are made better by the opulent, velvet laden textures that coat your palate.
94 points - Tasted Mar 5, 2010
2166 Views -
With a perfume that takes over your senses. You are blasted with blackberry, truffle, oak and creamy raspberry aromatics. Opulent and rich on the palate. Concentrated and full bodied with an intense, silky mouth feel that is out of this world. The sexy licorice covered, black fruit finish is a treat.
95 points - Tasted Jun 21, 2009
2127 Views -
Dark berry, licorice and spicy aromatics with hints of coco. Great structure. Lots of concentration, balanced, lush and opulently textured. This sublime wine finishes with a blast of soft, round, silky, ripe plums and berries.
95 points - Tasted Jun 6, 2008
2125 Views
-
-
1999 Château Clos St. Martin
-
Fully evolved with aromas of herbs and fresh red fruit, there was some dryness in the finish. I would drink this sooner than later
88 points - Tasted Jun 21, 2009
849 Views
-
-
1998 Château Clos St. Martin
-
Opening with complex mineral, spice box and black fruit aromatics. The wine had a plush entry, but lacked the depth and concentration of morerecent vintages. With 98, you see a huge jump in style and quality. This was the first year Sophie Foucarde began turning things around for the property. Drink this wine on the young side.
90 points - Tasted Jun 21, 2009
1285 Views -
Although complex aromatically, this lighter bodied and styled wine does not follow through on the palate. The finish, while pleasant, is short. Since the wine is ready to drink today, there is no reason to wait for further evolution.
89 points - Tasted Oct 11, 2008
1289 Views -
This kicked off with a powerful nose. But that's where it left off. Medium bodied and light on the palate without much follow through. Ready to drink today.
89 points - Tasted Jun 6, 2008
1106 Views
-
-
1996 Château Clos St. Martin
-
Light in color, medium bodied and showing some hint of underripeness in the finish.
85 points - Tasted Jun 21, 2009
573 Views
-
-
1990 Château Clos St. Martin
-
Light ruby with bricking in the color. The nose of strawberry and spice accompanied this fully mature wine which finished with hints of dark fruit. Drink up.
84 points - Tasted Jun 21, 2009
637 Views
-
-
1964 Château Clos St. Martin
-
After opening and tasting the wine, Sophie said, "this was not a perfect bottle." The wine was light and sadly had moved past its prime. But, so what? I was tasting a 44 year old bottle of Clos St. Martin with the owner. Life does not get better.
83 points - Tasted Jun 21, 2009
593 Views
-
53 queries. 3.133 seconds.