Chateau Fontenil 2018

ANTONIO GALLONI: "The 2018 Fontenil is even better from bottle than it was from barrel. Super-ripe dark cherry, plum, licorice, menthol and spice flesh out as this supple, exuberant Fronsac shows off its curves. Touches of new French oak and blood orange add the closing shades of nuance."

DECANTER: "Since 1986 this has been the 11-hectare property of super-consultants Michel and Dany Rolland. There are juicy black cherry aromas on the nose, while the palate is sumptuous and concentrated. It's a solid mouthful of Merlot fruit that's a touch overbearing, though it does have quite good length. Drinking Window 2022 - 2032"

FALSTAFF: "Dunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, dezente Randaufhellung. Etwas nach Kirschen und reifen Pflaumen, dunkles Beerenkonfit, kandierte Orangenschalen, Nougattouch. Saftig elegant, feine Säurestruktur, eingebundenes, süßes Tannin, reife Beerenfrucht im Abgang, bleibt gut haften."

JAMES SUCKLING: "Blueberry and raspberry notes with wood and earthy undertones. It is full-bodied with nice acidity and intense, creamy tannins. Beautiful, clean finish. Still tight, as it should be. Drink after 2023."

JEB DUNNUCK: "The 2018 Château Fontenil is a beautiful wine that readers will be happy to have in their cellar. Coming from the home estate of Michel and Danny Rolland in Fronsac, it offers a saturated ruby/purple hue as well as terrific Pomerol-like aromas and flavors of cassis, damp earth, violets, and cedary spice. Flawlessly balanced, medium-bodied, with background oak as well as chalky minerality, it's already hard to resist yet has another 10-15 years of prime drinking ahead of it. It's a hidden gem in the vintage."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "The flowery nose, with its incense, smoke, licorice and wild cherries gets your initial attention. However, it is the waves of perfect ripe, silky, sexy, sweet red fruits with their freshness and purity on the palate and in the finish that steals the show. The is the best vintage ever produced at Fontenil."

THE WINEADVOCATE: "Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2018 Fontenil hits the ground running with vivacious notes of baked black plums, stewed black cherries and black raspberry preserves, followed by hints of molten licorice, ground cloves and sandalwood. The rich, full-bodied palate (15% alcohol) is jam-packed with black fruit preserves and exotic spice accents, framed by plush tannins and plenty of freshness, finishing long and perfumed."