Fonbel 2022

The 2022 de Fonbel is a blend of 85% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Carmenere and has a deep garnet-purple color. It flies out of the glass with energetic notes of crushed blackberries, boysenberries, and raspberry coulis, leading to suggestions of Indian spices, pencil shavings, and iron ore. The full-bodied palate is concentrated and opulent, delivering mouth-watering freshness contrasted with powerful, firm, rounded tannins, finishing very long and fruity. Impressive!

From a 16-hectare vineyard on sandy soils on the plain, the 2022 Fonbel has turned out nicely, offering up aromas of cherries, blood orange and petals, followed by a medium to full-bodied, supple and nicely concentrated palate with a sweet core of fruit. 2025 - 2035

The 2022 Château de Fonbel was picked from 15 to 28 September and matured in 30% barrel, the rest in stainless steel. It has a lifted nose with a subtle oyster shell tincture, vibrant with a sorbet-like freshness. The palate is medium-bodied with a lightly spiced entry, modest depth, vanilla and cinnamon infusing the black fruit with a nicely detailed finish. Give this just a couple of years in bottle.

Really fruit-forward on the nose, with ripe dark cherries and a touch of graphite. Quite firm and nicely chewy on the palate, with an almost full body and a tight yet lengthy finish. Quite flavorful and ripe, but solid and fresh at the same time. Drink from 2027.