Fonplegade 2022 (750ML)

95-96 JS / 95 DE / 95 JA / 93-95 VM / 92-94+ JD / 90-92 WA

Ripe black and blue fruit here with savory undertones. Medium to full body. Tannins are firm but crunchy and lively. Structured and long. Vibrant finish with floral undertones. Classy. From biodynamically grown grapes. - James Suckling

Rich, high toned and open on the nose with savoury, herbal and spiced notes. Crunchy, chewy, bright sharp and sour fruit as well as high acidity, all combining to be forward and open with a cool fresh mint and crushed stone undertone. Balanced, this feels suave and detailed, not massively weighty, still has the tension and focus but everything is supremely harmonious on the palate with no one element sticking out. You can feel the density and the concentration of the fruit - blackcurrant, damson, plum, and a sense of the intensity while still having terroir markers of flint, graphite and salinity. Charming and approachable - one to seek out. Harvest 12 - 26 September. Ageing 16 months; 50% new barrels, 30% one wine, 10% cement egg, 10% amphora. Derenoncourt consultants. - Georgina Hindle, Decanter

Limestone fingerprint gives balance and a pummice stone slate chraacter to the tannic grip. This is intense, with delicious edges of fennel and saffron, plenty of lift and juice, enjoyable and not overblown, stays firmly on the right side. Raspberry and blackberry fruits abound. A delicous wine; one to look out for. 50% new oak. - Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux

The 2022 Fonplégade could very well turn out to be one of the surprises of the vintage. Aromatic, silky and super-expressive, the 2022 is impeccable. I especially admire the energy and balance here - Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media

The 2022 Château Fonplegade showed well both times I was able to taste it. Mulled cherries, cassis, chocolate, violets, and spicy notes all emerge on the nose, and it's medium to full-bodied, with a ripe, mouth-filling texture, building yet ripe tannins, and outstanding length. The tannins will need to be watched here, but I suspect this will round in to form nicely over the course of its élevage, and it's clearly an outstanding Saint-Emilion in the making. - Jeb Dunnuck

Unwinding in the glass with aromas of ripe cherries and plums, the 2022 Fonplégade is medium to full-bodied, ample and fleshy, with a rich core of fruit and powdery tannins that assert themselves on the finish. It shows promise. - William Kelley, Wine Advocate