Winery
Chateau Fonbadet
Region
Pauillac Cru Bourgeois, Bordeaux, France
Varietal
60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc, 5% Petit Verdot et Malbec.
Alcohol%
13
Tasting Note
Eye
Dense, dark garnet colour, drawing on purple in its youth.
Aroma
The bouquet consists of black and red fruits, roasting, liquorice and leather.
Palate
The Pauillacs are vigorous and tannic, which softens with age which allows the tannins to melt and give a nice and round structure.
Awards
94 Wine Enthusiast
"This 50-acre, family-owned property is surrounded by some of the most famous names in Pauillac. The wine shares some of the same fine Cabernet Sauvignon flavours, ripe with intense black-currant fruitiness that partners with dusty tannins and acidity. It's a wine for ageing. Do not expect to drink before 2025."
93 Antonio Galloni - Vinous
"The 2016 Fonbadet is absolutely lovely. Soft curves and a good dose of sweet red cherry jam make a strong opening statement. Lavender, rose petal, spice, leather and chocolate all flesh out as this effortless, racy Pauillac shows off its alluring personality. A wine of total seduction, 2016 will prove impossible to resist pretty much upon release. Tasted three times."
Decanter: 91 Points
This really is a successful Fonbadet full of rich dark liquorice that feels extremely typical of the appellation. The tannins are present but not rustic with a sense of vibrancy and uplift through the finish alongside a quickening feeling of slate minerality. A yield of 55hl/ha suggests there was such natural ripeness in this vintage that low yields were not necessary to get this intensity of flavour. No need to wait too long to get going on this. Drinking Window 2025 - 2040.
James Suckling: 92 Points
Pretty, bright dark fruit with blueberry and currant aromas and flavours. Medium body and firm, silky tannins.
Jeb Dunnuck: 93 Points
I loved the 2018 Château Fonbadet, a Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated blend (there’s 25% Merlot) that’s ageing in 50% new French oak. Classic Pauillac notes of cassis, lead pencil, graphite, cold fireplace, and ample earthy minerality all flow to a medium to full-bodied, elegant wine that stays tight, focused and structured on the palate. It’s going to need 4-5 years of bottle age, but it’s a beauty. Jane Anson, 4/4/2019.