Château Fombrauge - Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2017

Jeb DUNNUCK

90-92 / 100

par Jeb Dunnuck le 12/06/2018

Black currants, caramelized cherries, licorice, and nicely integrated oak all emerge from the 2017 Château Fombrauge. Ripe, sexy, and rounded on the palate, with terrific fruit and sweet tannin, it's a charming 2017 to drink in its first decade of life. The blend is 93% Merlot and 7% Cabernet Franc, aged in 40% new French oak. Tasted twice.

Vinifera

88 / 100

par Jacques Perrin le 28/05/2018

Nez aux nuances balsamiques et fruitées d’une belle intensité. Corps souple, gourmand, bien construit. Joli tanin réglissé et finale d’une bonne persistance.

Vinous

90-93 / 100

par Antonio Galloni le 15/05/2018

Bernard Magrez's Fombrauge is very, very good in 2017. Dense, plush and sensual, with fabulous balance, the 2017 captures the essence of the Magrez style without being overblown. An infusion of blackberry jam, dark chocolate, new leather, spice, menthol and licorice gives the Fombrauge its rich, unctuous personality. All the elements meld together in this sumptuous wine. Tasted three times.

The Wine Cellar Insider

89-91 / 100

par Jeff Leve le 11/05/2018

Forward, soft, round and on the fresh side, this wine offers sweet, black cherries, licorice and dark chocolate. Made from a blend of 93% Merlot and 7% Cabernet Franc, there is a bittersweet, cacao overtone floating in the juicy, red plum finish, adding more richness on the palate.

Vinous

90-92 / 100

par Neal Martin le 01/05/2018

The 2017 Fombrauge was partially touched by the frost in the lower reaches of the vineyard. It was picked from 21 September to 7 October, relatively late for this vintage. It underwent two leaf-thinning and ages for 16 months in 40% new oak, the remainder one-year old. It offers raspberry and crushed strawberry fruit on the nose, the oak nicely integrated with incense and iris aromas emerging with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with saturated ripe tannin, plush and sensual in the mouth with lightly spiced red and black fruit tinged with dried blood and white pepper. This is a well-crafted Fombrauge that will probably require three or four years in bottle.

Wine Advocate

92-94 / 100

par Lisa Perrotti-Brown le 27/04/2018

Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, the 2017 Fombrauge leaps from the glass with expressive red and black currants notes and a plummy undercurrent plus wafts of lilacs and wood smoke. The palate is medium-bodied with a finely grained frame and backbone freshness supporting the elegant fruit, finishing on a lingering earthy note.

Decanter.com

91 / 100

par Jane Anson le 25/04/2018

Magrez has done a good job in 2017 pretty much across the board - these are wines that have the natural austerity of the vintage, but with clever use of oak that rounds out the fruit that can otherwise appear a little thin. There is power here, no doubt, but the finish is shorter than in the past two vintages. A dash of Cabernet Sauvignon finishes off the blend. At 58ha, this is one of the biggest St-Émilion estates.

Drinking Window 2025 - 2037

WeinWisser

17 / 20

par René Gabriel le 25/04/2018

Jean-Marc QUARIN

15 / 20

par Jean-Marc Quarin le 17/04/2018

Wine Enthusiast

93-95 / 100

par Roger Voss le 17/04/2018

This wine is immense, dense in powerful, solid tannins and dark, black fruits. It has great concentration, a dusty texture and final notes of chocolate, black plum and spice. Drink from 2024.

Jamessuckling.com

91-92 / 100

par James Suckling le 06/04/2018

A tight and elegant red with very fine tannins, a medium body and a fresh finish. Shows tension and freshness. Solid for the region.

Wine Spectator

90-93 / 100

par James Molesworth le 04/04/2018

Offers nice flesh, with a mix of black currant and plum fruit inlaid with subtle black tea, graphite and anise notes. Reveals a tobacco edge on the finish. Well done.—J.M.