2018 Château Fontenil, Fronsac

2018 Château Fontenil, Fronsac

Critic score
91.75/100 info

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Wine details

  • Region & country
    Fronsac, Right Bank, Bordeaux, France
  • Maturity
    Ready 2021 - 2035info
  • Colour
    Red
  • Sweetness
    Dry
  • Style
    Still
  • Unit Volume
    Bottle (75cl.)
  • ABV
    15%

Tasting notes

Deep purple-black in color, the 2018 Fontenil struts out of the glass with confident black plum preserves, black cherries and mulberries scents plus suggestions of underbrush, Indian spices, violets and mossy bark. Full-bodied, rich and decadently fruited, it has a solid, plush frame and loads of freshness, finishing long and perfumed.

Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Wine Advocate (April 2019)
(93—95)/100

This is good quality, it'll take its time to come around and not as seductive as some in the vintage, but this is a lovely Fronsac with lift and kick. There is lovely purity to the fruit here with gorgeous violet reflections, and despite being pretty austere on the opening, and closing in through the mid palate, it has real precision to the black fruits.

Jane Anson, Decanter (April 2019)
(89)/100

This is so tight and polished with a degree of depth and beauty I have not seen for a while. Medium body and beautiful, silky tannins that buttress the lovely, focused fruit.

James Suckling, jamessuckling.com (April 2019)
(93—94)/100

The 2018 Fontenil is a real standout. Sweet floral notes add brightness to a core of red berry and blood orange fruit. There is plenty of depth and overall texture, but at the same time the 2018 has a good bit of brightness as well. The 2018 is a gorgeous Fontenil. Tasted two times.

Antonio Galloni, vinous.com (April 2019)
(89—92)/100
Château Fontenil

Château Fontenil was created by world renowned wine consultant Michel Rolland, and his wife Dany, in 1986. Although little is known about the vines' early years, the estate itself was formed when Michel and Dany were looking for somewhere to live. They bought the vines first, followed by the dilapidated chateau, which is now their family home. By combining several parcels together, one of which was a lieu dit called Fontenil, the estate was born into its present day 7 hectares. Fontenil sits in the commune of Saillans, and grows a mix of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon on limestone, clay, sand and gravel soils. A testament to Michel Rolland’s winemaking expertise - he consults for over 100 Bordeaux estates - and substantial investment in the cellars, Fontenil consistently produces appealing, consistently excellent red Bordeaux and is putting Fronsac back on the quality map.

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