Chateau Fonreaud 2020

Particularly seductive, complex aromas of berries and spices; it has flesh, but also a first‑class tannic backbone, finishing juicy and very long; a harmonious wine without heaviness, wonderful.

Gorgeous intense aromatics on the nose, ripe fragranced black fruits and purple flowers. Juicy and lively, this has a sleek texture, really quite clean and mineral, a lick of stone gives the dominant impression while the cool acidity drives the wine forward. Still a little tight, coiled and nervous, but well worked with a good frame and crisp nature. Tannins are well integrated and this has a style to it. Bright, pulsing, good energy, not massive weight or expansion right now, it’s all kept in check but lovely individual details. One for sooner drinking with a crushed stone element to the tannins on the finish and overall mouthwatering acidity. Some chocolate too, young but yummy.

A slightly lean and linear 2020 now, with berry, currant and stone aromas and flavors. Medium-bodied, fresh and clean. A little rough around the edges for now. Should soften with bottle age. Drink after 2023.

55% Merlot, 42% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Petit Verdot. Deepish crimson. Toasty oak on the nose and on the palate. Sweetness of both oak and fruit enlivened by balancing freshness. Extremely fine tannins – you could approach this soon, with food. (JH)

The 2020 Fonréaud is much cleaner on the nose than it showed from barrel. Blackberry and bilberry fruit, no sign of any Brettanomyces, quite focused. The palate is well balanced with fine delineation, taut and fresh with a saline finish. Give this 3–4 years in bottle as it is promising.

Cigar box, cedar and earthy currants take over the nose. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied with soft tannins and a crispness to the red fruits on the mid-palate and in the sweet, chewy, savory, minty finish. You can enjoy this shortly after release. Drink from 2023-2035.

I loved the nose on the 2020 Château Fonréaud, which offers loads of currants, lead pencil, tobacco, macerated cherries, and leafy, herb-like nuances that develop nicely with time in the glass. These carry to a medium-bodied, soft, supple, incredibly charming 2020 with a delicious, drink-me-now style that should keep nicely for 7–8 years.

Kunz barrel sample 2021: silky, light, sweet bouquet, red cherries, currants, roasted aromas. Slender, finely fruited, delicate palate with sweet fruit, slender structure, good tannin, light finish.

Silky, light, sweet bouquet, red cherries, redcurrants, roasted aromas. Slender, finely fruity, delicate palate with sweet fruit, slender structure, good tannins, light finish. 16/20 2024 - 2035

Light raspberry and red cherry fruits, tight on the finish, struggles to build momentum. Vignobles Chanfreau, Terra Vitis, 30hl/ha yield, 30% new oak.

The 2020 Fonreaud has a deep garnet-purple color. It gives up notes of crushed black and red currants, cedar, and unsmoked cigars, with wafts of dried herbs and tilled soil. Light to medium-bodied, the palate is a little thin and chewy, with a lively, if rather short, finish.

An open, indulgent nose with notes of coffee bean, mocha, and fruit coulis, supported by luxurious oak. Opulent flavours on the palate. The same notes of mocha and pomegranate return, along with a silky, limpid texture.

Fonréaud has achieved a fine balance between barrel aging and notes of black berries and cherries. With good density, the wine offers well-integrated tannins, a gourmand touch, and a finish of black berries. A refined, inviting, and indulgent Fonréaud.

Full-bodied, flavorful wine with a woody touch on the finish. Medium body and length.

Empyreumatic notes dominate the nose without smothering an elegant, complex fruit core (red and black fruits), with citron, vetiver and fresh leather. The palate also shows noticeable oak: the tannins will melt into a flavorful, silky mid-palate. Plenty of balance and vigor.