Chateau de Fonbel 2016
- Vintage
- 2016
- Country
- France
- Region
- Bordeaux,St Emilion
- Size
- 750ml
- Rating
- WA91
- Grape
- Merlot,Cabernet Sauvignon
Composed of 70% Merlot, 16% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Petit Verdot and 7% Carménère, the medium to deep garnet-purple colored 2016 Fonbel has a classic nose of warm red plums, cigar box and black plums with nuances of redcurrants, Sichuan pepper and tar. Medium to full-bodied, the palate delivers a lot of mid-palate fruit with lovely plush tannins and a long refreshing finish. Drink:2019~2032 - WA91
Chateau Fonbel has a long, ancient history that dates all the way back to the times when the ancient Romans were active in St. Emilion cultivating grapes for wine. In 1971, Alain Vauthier purchased Chateau Fonbel. The Vauthier family are of course better known for owning the famous estate, Chateau Ausone as well as Chateau Moulin St. Georges in St. Emilion. The vineyard is located on flat land, not far from Chateau Ausone, Chateau Moulin St Georges or the picturesque village of St. Emilion.
The 16 hectare Chateau Fonbel vineyard has a terroir of clay, sand and gravel soils. The St. Emilion vineyard of Chateau Fonbel is planted to 70% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Petit Verdot and 3% Carmenere. This planting represents the largest percentage of Carmenere in the Right Bank. In fact, this is also one of the largest plantings of Carmenere in all of Bordeaux! Chateau Fonbel could have the highest portion of Petit Verdot in the Right Bank as 7% of their vineyard is planted to Petit Verdot. The vines are on average, close to 20 years of age. The actual blend is often the same as the vineyard cepage at Chateau Fonbel.
To produce the wine of Chateau Fonbel, the grapes are vinified in stainless steel, temperature controlled vats. Malolactic fermentation takes place in vat. Chateau Fonbel is aged in 30% new, French oak barrels for close to 10 months before bottling. The wine of Fonbel is produced by the same team that makes Chateau Ausone. The young, Pauline Vauthier is slowly, but surely taking a more active roll at Moulin Saint Georges, while her father, Alain Vautheir continues to take a step back. On average, 8,000 cases of Chateau Fonbel wine are produced every year. - Information from The Wine Cellar Insider