| Fourtet 2005 • June 2006 | CLOS FOURTET
1st Great Classified Growth
2005 vintage
Geographical situation :
On the limestone-clay plateau opposite the collegiate church of Saint Emilion.
Surface area :
20 hectares (49.4 acres), of which 18.7 hectares (46.18 acres) are in production.
Density of plantation :
6,000 plants per hectare
Grape varieties :
- 85 % Merlot
- 10 % Cabernet Sauvignon
- 5 % Cabernet Franc
Average age of the vines :
25 years
Vineyard management :
Clos Fourtet practises sustainable viticulture methods for its vineyard. Grass is seeded between the rows, while the soil directly between the vine plants is ploughed.
The vines are pruned with two long canes, which are later de-budded to the required number of buds. They are de-leafed on the east/north side at the end of June, and on the west/south side at the end of August. Crop thinning is carried out at the beginning of the grape colour change. This all results in evenly spread out grapes which are well ventilated for good ripening.
2005 vintage :
Weather conditions
Not much rainfall during the winter and cold until mid-March. April was wet (120 mm) and quite cold until the 15th. Then, after the heavy rains stopped, higher temperatures set in, leading to a fast growth of vegetation. From May to the end of August, there was practically no rain of any importance with an average monthly rainfall of 20 mm and quite high temperatures (maximum of 34°C), cool nights but no heat wave. In September temperatures were normal for the season with good rainfall (50 mm).
Growing season :
The bud-break came on the 28th March, the vegetation grew very slowly until the end of April, then with rising temperatures, the vegetation caught up the lost time, and the flowering began on May 25. The beginning of grape colour change took place on July 22nd. The hot days and cool nights during August, then a mild September with some refreshing rain, enabled a gradual and even development of the fruit and a complete ripening. The picking began on September 26 and ended on October 11.
Vinification :
This was carried out in the usual way with, as in previous years, manual punching down of the cap of skins in the middle of the fermentation, on grapes that were not crushed at harvest reception.
Tasting :
The first tastings have confirmed the complexity of this vintage. It has a very deep colour. This very powerful, sun-drenched wine expresses remarkably all the characteristics of the clay-limestone terroir and the climatic conditions of the vintage.
Contact
Clos Fourtet – 33330 Saint-Emilion
Tel : +33 (0) 557 247 090 – Fax : +33 (0) 557 744 652
E-mail : closfourtet@closfourtet.com
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