Clos Fourtet

Clos Fourtet is a historic Bordeaux wine estate in the Saint-Émilion appellation on Bordeaux’s Right Bank. The property stands opposite the principal entrance to the medieval town of Saint-Émilion and occupies a site that originally served a defensive function during the Middle Ages. Its name and identity developed over several centuries: the estate was historically known as Camfourtet, or Camp Fourtet, before the Rulleau family adopted the name Clos Fourtet in 1868. Viticulture became established at the property in the mid-eighteenth century through the work of Léon Rulleau. The estate later passed to his nephew, Elie Rulleau, who commissioned the château that forms the basis of the present estate. An eighteenth-century valuation recorded in 1789 placed the property at 100,000 livres, indicating that it was already a substantial and valuable holding before the modern Bordeaux classification era. The estate changed ownership several times in the twentieth century. Fernand Ginestet acquired Clos Fourtet in 1919, the same year he bought Château Petit-Village in Pomerol. In 1949, his son Pierre Ginestet sold Clos Fourtet as part of a transaction intended to finance control of Château Margaux. François Lurton then acquired the estate, and it remained associated with the Lurton family until its sale in 2001. The sale was reported at approximately US$66.8 million, although that figure is historical rather than a current valuation or financial measure. Clos Fourtet is classified as a Premier Grand Cru Classé B estate in the Saint-Émilion wine classification. Its core offering is a red Bordeaux wine made primarily from Merlot, supported by Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. The vineyard extends across approximately 19 hectares, with the reported planting mix comprising about 85% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Cabernet Franc. The estate generally produces around 5,000 cases of its grand vin, Clos Fourtet, and approximately 2,500 cases of its second wine, Closerie de Fourtet, although annual volumes can vary by vintage and production conditions. Since the 2001 ownership change, Clos Fourtet has been owned by Philippe Cuvelier, who also owns Château Poujeaux. Oenologist Stéphane Derenoncourt has served as a consultant to the estate. The brand’s market position is defined by classified Saint-Émilion status, a distinctive fortified historic setting, limited production, and premium positioning within the international fine-wine trade. Its business is centered on estate-grown and estate-produced red wine rather than a broad consumer product portfolio.

Clos Fourtet occupies a historically strategic site opposite the main entrance to the old town of Saint-Émilion. The property originated as a medieval defensive fort, and its fortified setting remains a defining part of the estate’s identity. Although the site’s military origins predate its wine business, organized viticulture is associated with Léon Rulleau’s work in the mid-eighteenth century. At that time the property was known as Camfourtet, a name also rendered as Camp Fourtet. Léon Rulleau passed the estate to his nephew Elie Rulleau, who built the present château. The property was already of considerable value by the late eighteenth century: records from 1789 valued it at 100,000 livres. The Rulleau family changed the estate’s name to Clos Fourtet in 1868, establishing the designation that remains in use today. In 1919, Fernand Ginestet purchased Clos Fourtet. The acquisition took place alongside his purchase of Château Petit-Village in Pomerol, linking the estate for a period to a wider Bordeaux ownership portfolio. In 1949, Fernand’s son Pierre Ginestet sold Clos Fourtet in order to help finance control of Château Margaux. François Lurton became the subsequent owner, and the estate remained with the Lurton family for much of the second half of the twentieth century. The Lurton family sold Clos Fourtet in 2001. Contemporary reporting placed the transaction at approximately US$66.8 million. The estate is now owned by Philippe Cuvelier, who also owns Château Poujeaux. Stéphane Derenoncourt has acted as the estate’s consulting oenologist. Clos Fourtet is classified as Premier Grand Cru Classé B in the Saint-Émilion classification. The vineyard covers approximately 19 hectares and is planted predominantly with Merlot, complemented by Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. The reported proportions are 85% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Cabernet Franc. Production is divided between the principal wine, Clos Fourtet, and the second wine, Closerie de Fourtet. Typical reported output is approximately 5,000 cases of the grand vin and 2,500 cases of the second wine per year. The estate’s modern identity combines its classified-growth status, small-scale production, historic fortification, and location within Saint-Émilion. It operates as a premium wine property rather than as a diversified branded-goods company. Its wines are sold through the fine-wine distribution system in France and international markets, with vintage conditions influencing both production and commercial availability.

• 2001

  Sale by the Lurton family

  [1]Clos Fourteten.wikipedia.org

  The Lurton family sold Clos Fourtet in a transaction reported at approximately US$66.8 million.

• 1949

  Sale by Pierre Ginestet

  [1]Clos Fourteten.wikipedia.org

  Pierre Ginestet sold the estate to help finance control of Château Margaux.

• 1919

  Acquisition by Fernand Ginestet

  [1]Clos Fourteten.wikipedia.org

  Fernand Ginestet acquired Clos Fourtet in the same year that he purchased Château Petit-Village in Pomerol.

• 1868

  Adoption of the Clos Fourtet name

  [1]Clos Fourteten.wikipedia.org

  The Rulleau family changed the estate’s name from the earlier Camfourtet designation to Clos Fourtet.

• 1789

  Recorded valuation of the estate

  [1]Clos Fourteten.wikipedia.org

  Historical records valued the property at 100,000 livres, illustrating its importance before the modern era of Bordeaux classifications.

Premium and highly limited Saint-Émilion classified-growth wine estate

• Grand vin red Bordeaux

  Clos Fourtet

  Clos Fourtet is the estate’s principal wine and a Premier Grand Cru Classé B Saint-Émilion. It is produced from the property’s approximately 19-hectare vineyard, planted mainly to Merlot with smaller proportions of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Reported annual production is about 5,000 cases, subject to vintage conditions and selection.

• Second wine

  Closerie de Fourtet

  Closerie de Fourtet is the estate’s second wine. It provides a separate expression of the property’s Saint-Émilion vineyard program and is made alongside the grand vin. Reported production is approximately 2,500 cases annually, although the quantity may change according to vintage quality, vineyard yields, and cellar selection.

• 2001

  Sale to new ownershipM&A

  Background

  The Lurton family had owned the estate before the 2001 transaction.

  Action taken

  Clos Fourtet was sold, with the transaction reported at approximately US$66.8 million.

  Aftermath

  Philippe Cuvelier became the current owner, and the estate continued operating as a classified Saint-Émilion wine property.

  Reported transaction value. Approximately US$66.8 million (2001 transaction)

  Source

• 1868

  Renaming of the estateStrategy

  Background

  The property had historically been known as Camfourtet or Camp Fourtet.

  Action taken

  The Rulleau family adopted the name Clos Fourtet, which became the estate’s enduring commercial identity.

  Aftermath

  The Clos Fourtet name remains associated with the Saint-Émilion classified-growth estate and its wines.

  Source

1. 1Clos Fourteten.wikipedia.org
2. 2Clos Fourtet official websiteclosfourtet.com