2023 Fontenil
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Tasting notes
Ripe red and black cherries, spicy wood, leafy tobacco, and hints of chocolate all define the 2023 Château Fontenil, a gorgeous, pure, balanced Fronsac from clay and limestone soils that will compete with any number of terrific Pomerol. Aged 15 to 18 months in 40% new French oak, it's ripe and medium to full-bodied on the palate, with a round, layered mouthfeel, polished tannins, and a great finish. Drink this graceful, incredibly satisfying Fronsac over the coming 15+ years. Drink 2026-2041.
Critic scores
Average Score
James Suckling
Neal Martin, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The 2023 Fontenil is a huge, dense wine that needs time to shed some of its baby fat. Inky dark fruit, licorice, chocolate, new leather, incense and espresso race across the palate. This explosive, sumptuous Fronsac hits all the right notes. There's a lot of wine here.
The 2023 Fontenil has a perfumed nose, with a mixture of red and black fruit, red peppercorns and tobacco. The palate is medium-bodied, with supple tannins, fine acidity, rounded in texture though I would just like a modicum more grip on the finish. Otherwise, this is a fine Fontenil.
Ripe black cherries, hints of cassis, classy oak, and violets all emerge from the 2023 Château Fontenil, a gorgeously textured, layered Fronsac revealing ripe tannins, just about flawless balance, and a great finish. It actually reminds me slightly of the 2019. If you see it, you should buy it. While a Defi de Fontenil will be released, it wasn’t available to taste due to late malolactic fermentation.