Château Fonréaud 2018

Smoky notes, oak spice; fresh attack, powdery tannins, classically built, good length, finishes fruity-spicy; true to style.

From a 38-hectare vineyard planted on Pyrenean gravel soils over a limestone subsoil. A blend of 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot and 3% Petit Verdot, this shows notes of cola, cool blue fruits, liquorice and wet stone on the nose, with dried herbs, dark chocolate and blackcurrants. Supple and succulent, it offers a generous profile of chewy strawberry and cherry fruit, lifted acidity with bite and tang, and chalky tannins adding texture and nuance. Still a touch reticent, yet there’s a gentle calmness about it. Feels well made, with plenty of power, brightness and freshness. Lots going on, with a long, persistent, minty-fresh finish where the minerality also lingers in flinty and graphite tones on the tongue. It’s got it all, even if still a little youthful or in a closed phase. Owned by Vignobles Chanfreau.

Savory aromas of dried mushroom and forest floor here, with blackcurrants and dried leaves. Some dried citrus peel, too. It’s medium-bodied with firm, fine-grained tannins. Drink from 2022.

48% Cabernet Sauvignon, 48% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot. Darkest cherry with a purple-crimson rim. Bright, cedary-fresh aroma of black fruits. Firm, dry tannins that keep the fruit tongue-tied on the palate, but the tannins are finely built, if dense for now. Not giving much away. Dry, almost chalky in texture, relatively slim on the mid-palate. (JH)

The 2018 Fonréaud has an exuberant bouquet featuring more red than black fruit, offering raspberry and wild strawberry and touches of tobacco and espresso; I like the manner in which this unfolds. The medium-bodied palate is delineated with a fine bead of acidity and grainy tannins, although the oak seems to dominate on the finish and lends a dark chocolate smear that detracts from its precision (also one of its attributes in barrel). I hope that will be assimilated with time.

Spicy, with smoke, cedar, tobacco and red berries on the nose and palate. The wine is fresh, medium-bodied, chewy, and finishes with a tangy, bright red-berry note.

Deep dark ruby, purple reflections, delicate bright rim. Sweet dark forest berry nuances, a breath of chocolate and caramel, ripe cherries. Juicy, pronounced fruit body, supporting tannins, mineral finish, complex and long, good length.

Lots of cedar, sappy green herbs, and assorted red and black fruits emerge from the 2018 Château Fonreaud. Medium-bodied, with a balanced, elegant texture and impressive, polished tannins, I love its purity of fruit. This charming, elegant 2018 should benefit from a year or two of bottle age and have a good decade of longevity.

Kunz barrel sample 19: medium, fruity bouquet, blue berries, balsa wood, roasted notes, bread crust. Medium-bodied palate with good fruit, fine sandy tannins, delicate aromatics, bitter finish. Has room to improve.

Medium, fruity bouquet, blue berries, balsa wood, roasted notes, bread crust. Medium-bodied palate with good fruit, finely sandy tannins, delicate aromatics, bitter finish. Can still improve. 16/20 2024 - 2036

There’s a common thread that’s becoming quite clear… the wines from the Chanfreau vineyards are often notably marked by oak. It doesn’t really bother me, but I’ve been noticing it for some time. Here I pick up notes of praline, vanilla and mocha, followed by nuances of dark berries. On the palate, the wine is gourmand, slightly creamy and perfectly balanced. There’s a lovely harmony between the freshness of the acidity and the finesse of the tannins. Fruity, persistent finish.

Logo on the cork: A in a circle (Amorim) Lovely dark color. Discreet nose, more spicy than fruity. Palate with a caressing texture, medium body, tasty evolution but a bit radiant on the finish (alcohol), yet without marked tannins. Normal length.

91–93. Barrel Sample. Rich, smoky and juicy, this wine has bright acidity and structured tannins. The wood aging shows well already and will certainly integrate with fruits with further aging.