Chateau Fontenil (375ML half-bottle) 2020

  • 94 Robert
    Parker
  • 93 James
    Suckling
  • 93 Jeb
    Dunnuck
  • 92 Vinous
  • 90 Decanter
4.0 Very Good (12)
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Chateau Fontenil (375ML half-bottle) 2020  Front Label
Chateau Fontenil (375ML half-bottle) 2020  Front Label

Product Details


Varietal

Region

Producer

Vintage
2020

Size
375ML

Your Rating

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Somm Note

Winemaker Notes

Professional Ratings

  • 94

    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

  • 93
    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. Better from 2025.
  • 93

    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.

  • 92
    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
  • 90
    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

Other Vintages

2022
  • 94 James
    Suckling
  • 94 Jeb
    Dunnuck
  • 92 Decanter
2021
  • 92 James
    Suckling
  • 91 Jeb
    Dunnuck
  • 90 Decanter
  • 90 Robert
    Parker
2019
  • 94 Robert
    Parker
  • 93 Jeb
    Dunnuck
  • 92 James
    Suckling
  • 90 Decanter
2018
  • 94 Jeb
    Dunnuck
  • 93 Wine
    Spectator
  • 93 Robert
    Parker
  • 93 James
    Suckling
2016
  • 93 James
    Suckling
  • 93 Wine
    Spectator
  • 91 Robert
    Parker
  • 90 Jeb
    Dunnuck
2010
  • 92 James
    Suckling
  • 91 Robert
    Parker
  • 91 Wine
    Spectator
  • 90 Wine
    Enthusiast
2009
  • 92 Robert
    Parker
  • 92 Wine
    Enthusiast
  • 91 Wine
    Spectator
  • 91 James
    Suckling
2005
  • 91 Wine
    Spectator
  • 90 Robert
    Parker
2000
  • 94 Jeb
    Dunnuck
  • 91 Wine
    Spectator
1998
  • 94 Wine
    Spectator
Chateau Fontenil

Chateau Fontenil

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Chateau Fontenil, France
Chateau Fontenil Winery Image
Dany and Michel Rolland are the heirs to a solid family wine tradition. Both have degrees in oenology from the University of Bordeaux, and they know the Fronsac appellation well. Having been consultants to numerous estates in the region, they decided to set up there and make 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.

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One of the world’s most classic and popular styles of red wine, Bordeaux-inspired blends have spread from their homeland in France to nearly every corner of the New World. Typically based on either Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot and supported by Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, the best of these are densely hued, fragrant, full of fruit and boast a structure that begs for cellar time. Somm Secret—Blends from Bordeaux are generally earthier compared to those from the New World, which tend to be fruit-dominant.

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Fronsac Wine

Bordeaux, France

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Home of the very first remarkable Right Bank wines, dating back to the 1730s, Fronsac and Canon-Fronsac actually retained more fame than Pomerol well into the 19th century. Today these wines represent some of Bordeaux’s best hidden gems.

Fronsac is a very small region at an unusually high elevation compared to other Bordeaux appellations. Its vineyards unroll along the oak-dotted hills bordering the river’s edge, making it perhaps Bordeaux’s prettiest and most majestic countryside.

Merlot covers 60% of the vineyard acreage; the rest of the vines are Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. The Fronsac and Canon-Fronsac appellations are limited to the higher land where soils are predominantly limestone and sandstone. Lower vineyards along the Dordogne River mainly qualify for Bordeaux AOC status

The best Fronsac are deeply concentrated in ripe red and black berry; they have a solid mineral backbone and are rich and plush on the finish.

LTC751825_2020 Item# 751825

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