Chateau Fontenil 2020
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Parker
Robert -
Suckling
James - Vinous
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Dunnuck
Jeb - Decanter
Product Details
Your Rating
Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Opaque purple-black in color, the 2020 Fontenil needs a little swirling and coaxing to release opulent scents of plum preserves, blueberry compote and chocolate-covered cherries, plus suggestions of candied violets, ground cloves and fertile loam. The full-bodied palate is rich with generous black and blue preserves layers, supported by beautifully plush tannins and fantastic freshness, finishing long and fragrant.
Barrel Sample: 92-94 -
James Suckling
This has aromas of plums, orange zest, thyme and nutmeg. Medium-bodied, with tight tannins and fresh acidity. Vibrant and pretty, with so much tension throughout.
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Vinous
The 2020 Fontenil is deep, fleshy and super-expressive. Silky, plush tannins wrap around a core of blue/purplish fruit, lavender, spice, menthol and licorice. All the elements are so impeccably balanced. –Antonio Galloni
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Jeb Dunnuck
The classic 2020 Chateau Fontenil from this Fronsac chateau is a winner and well worth a case purchase. Giving up lots of spiced red and black fruits, smoked tobacco, and flowery incense notes, it's medium to full-bodied, has a round, supple, elegant texture, beautiful tannins, and nicely integrated oak. This sexy, seamless, straight-up impressive Fronsac will evolve for at least a decade. 93
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Decanter
The oak toasting is a little intrusive on the opening but this opens to show raspberry, blueberry and richly textured liquorice root and cocoa bean notes. Sour cherry on the finish gives a welcome kick of acidity.
Barrel Sample: 90
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Wine
In 1986, they acquired a few hectares in the commune of Saillans, which they called chateau Fontenil, after the name of one of the plots in the vineyard. The renovation work on the installations lasted until 1999; the vinification cellars, the barrel cellar and the storage cellar were all equipped with high-performance material.
Perfectly organized, tradition remains alongside new technologies: small stainless steel and wooden vats, double sorting table, barrel stock of which 60% are renewed each year and where malolactic fermentation is carried out – yield control from pruning the vines until green harvesting- sustainable viticulture, manual harvesting plot by plot using small crates.
The vines are on a slope with a southerly aspect, looking down on the river isle – a tributary of the Dordogne – and the town of Lilbourn. This magnificent setting frames an estate whose wines are among those which have enhanced the reputation of the Fronsac appellation.