Fonplegade 2018 (750ML)

93-96 WS / 93-95 WA / 92-95 VM / 93-94 JS / 94 DE / 92-94 JD

Quite ripe, featuring boysenberry and plum reduction notes, backed by a healthy dose of anise and fruitcake flavors. Stays focused, with solid, graphite-edged grip carrying the finish. Really promising. - James Molesworth, Wine Spectator

Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2018 Fonplegade strides confidently out of the glass with bold black cherries, warm plums and black raspberry scents plus hints of cedar chest, pencil shavings, lavender, garrigue and camphor. Full-bodied, rich and packed with expressive black fruits, it has a firm, velvety texture and just enough freshness, finishing long. - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Advocate

Fonplégade is rich, layered and sumptuous, to a degree it has not been before. Raspberry jam, mocha, espresso and licorice all burst out of the glass. Sensual and alluring, Fonplégade is absolutely gorgeous in 2018. The oak is just a bit pronounced at this stage, but the wine appears to have all of the natural depth to handle it. Proprietors Denise and Stephen Adams, along with consulting winemaker Stéphane Derenoncourt and his team, continue to take Fonplégade to new heights. The 2018 is 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, from yields of just 27 hectoliters per hectare, down from the more typical 35 or so. Tasted two times.- Antonio Galloni

This is really refined and beautiful, showing a new approach and reality to the terroir here. I appreciate the strength with finesse. Biodynamic. - James Suckling

Denise and Stephen Adams here succeeded with biodynamically grown fruit, even in 2018. It's definitely concentrated, with the emphasis on black fruits, liquorice, olive paste and dark chocolate. But pull up a chair and sit with it for a while and you start to notice more subtle nuances of flowers and herbs. The juicy, gourmet patisserie side begins to punch out of the glass after five minutes, and once again I'm left admiring what they are doing at this property.

It's extremely attractive, but I think the balance was better in 2016, when there was just a little more grace in the wine. - Jane Anson, Decanter

The 2018 Château Fonplégade is a big, rich, opulent barrel sample that doesn’t pull any punches with its black fruits, toasty oak, and chocolate-laced aromas and flavors. It lacks a touch of precision at the moment, but it has a terrific mid-palate, ripe tannins, and impressive balance. I suspect this is going to come together nicely once bottled and should be a rocking Saint-Émilion to enjoy over the following 10-15 years. - Jeb Dunnuck