Chateau Fonreaud 2015

Tasted at the Cru Bourgeois annual tasting, the 2015 Fonreaud offers impressive, engaging blackberry and briary scents on the nose, well defined and focused with just a slight reduction that works in its favor. The palate is medium-bodied with firm but fine tannin, plenty of spice-tinged black fruit mixed with graphite and cedar toward the structured finish. I admire the length of this Listrac and I suspect it will give many years of pleasure. Sign me up! Tasted September 2017.

The Chanfreau family continues its skilled course with this ripe, full and rich wine. Tannins from both the fruit and wood are prominent, giving a dry character to this youthful wine. However, the rich black-currant fruit is developing well. This wine has a long-term future. Drink from 2025.

Lots of vigour, grip and class from one of the commune's top châteaux.

Ripe red fruits, delicate herbal notes and serious dry tannins make this a striking Listrac. If the finish had more to give, this would rate more highly. Drink or hold.

The 2015 Fonréaud is a blend of 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot and 4% Petit Verdot cropped at 38Hl/Ha. It has a clean and fresh raspberry coulis, cranberry and strawberry scented bouquet with cedar and tobacco scents interwoven. The palate is medium-bodied with crisp tannin, good depth, nicely structured but not unapproachable. It feels long and tender in the mouth with a crisp saline finish. This Listrac is just as good as it was at last year's Cru Bourgeois tasting. Tasted at the Oenoconseil tasting room in Bordeaux.

The 2015 Château Fonréaud is an attractive, medium-bodied, charming and fruit forward effort offering moderate amounts of sweet cherry and strawberry fruits, as well as hints of flowers. It’s a well-made, delicious Listrac to drink over the coming 7-8 years. Tasted twice.

The color is dark with lovely coffee aromas on the nose. The wine offers a fine, silky texture with good depth; overall it is very approachable, with fine tannins and a subtle oaky touch.

Garnet with violet highlights. A complex bouquet, slightly smoky, with notes of blackberry, liquorice and cinnamon. Elegant on the palate, with firm, compact tannins. I find the palate’s aromatic profile more expressive than the nose. It is lightly spicy and reveals mineral notes and even a touch of cedar. The finish is fruity and persistent. A great success.

Dark, intense color. Fruity nose. A flavorsome, fruity palate offering body, plenty of flavor and well-rounded tannins. Average length.