Chateau Fombrauge 2018

JEB DUNNUCK: "A gorgeous wine that shines on all account, the 2018 Château Fombrauge sports a dense purple hue to go with loads of blackcurrant and black cherry fruits as well as tobacco leaf, damp earth, chocolate, and cedary herbs. With full-bodied richness, a deep, layered mid-palate, silky tannins, and outstanding length, this rock star Saint-Emilion can be enjoyed any time over the coming 20-25 years or more. It's hands down the finest vintage I've tasted from this estate."

JAMES SUCKLING: "Ripe-plum, black-cherry, milk-chocolate, walnut and vanilla aromas and flavors. It’s full-bodied with plush, velvety tannins. Creamy and polished. Very tight now. From organically grown grapes. Try from 2023, when it will begin to open up."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2018 Fombrauge needs some swirling to unlock notions of preserved plums, blackberry compote and Black Forest cake, with wafts of tree bark, tar and licorice in the background. The medium to full-bodied palate delivers impactful black fruits with a firm, grainy framed and soft acidity, finishing on a lingering aniseed note. Give it a good 2-3 years in bottle to spread its wings and drink it over the next 15+ years."

DECANTER: "A successful vintage for Fombrauge, showing good balance and rich texture. This will develop into a full-bodied, enjoyable wine majoring on berry fruit with a few more years in bottle, although there is a flash of heat through the finish. Michel Rolland is the consultant. There is Malbec in the vineyard here now, but not yet in this wine. Aged in 40% new oak."

FALSTAFF: "Dunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, dezente Randaufhellung. Dunkles Waldbeerkonfit, feine Nuancen von Edelholz, auch rotbeerige Nuancen, zart nussig unterlegt. Saftig, elegant, reife Kirschfrucht, präsente, noch etwas fordernde Tannine, mineralisch, schokoladiger Touch im Rückgeschmack, mittlere Länge im Moment."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Smoky, with a strong dose of licorice, espresso, chocolate fudge, black cherry and plum, this is a concentrated, full-bodied, rich, supple textured wine with layers of ripe, juicy, mouth-filling fruits. Give it at least a few years in the cellar for the oak to better integrate. The wine was made from blending 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc."

WEINWISSER: "Purpur mit rubinrotem Rand. Intensives Bouquet mit Waldbeercocktail, Roter Grütze und parfümiertem Pfeifentabak,dahinter Szechuanpfeffer und Heidelbeersaft. Am opulenten Gaumen mit cremiger Textur, sandiges Extrakt und engmaschiges Tanninkorsett. Im verkapselten Finale Wildkirsche und Schlehengelee, spürbare Adstringenz – für Freunde der modernen Vinifikation ein Genuss."

WINE SPECTATOR: "Dark plum and blackberry fruit glides through nicely, laced with sweet spice, black tea and alder hints through the suave finish. Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink now through 2026. 24,000 cases made, 5,000 cases imported. — JM"