Château Fombrauge Red 2016

Grand Cru Classé of Saint-Émilion

Six centuries of history. Château Fombrauge embodies the elegance of Saint-Emilion's Grands Crus Classés . The estate boasts an exceptional terroir, giving it elegance, complexity and distinction. The wine from Château Fombrauge is matured using traditional methods, combined with innovative, environmentally-friendly practices, which give it charm and complexity.

Features

Appellation: AOC Saint-Émilion Grand Cru
Location: Saint-Christophe-des-Bardes
Blend: 93% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc
Age of vines: 25 years
Planting density: 6,600 vines/ha

Tasting

Black raspberry, black cherry, plum, chocolate, smoke, wild flowers and exotic spices are just some of the many notes that permeate Fombrauge 2016. Rich, powerful and voluptuous, it offers a striking interplay between intense black fruits and aromatic freshness. The purity of flavors is captivating. A shift to more extensive fermentation in cement tanks and less use of new wood during ageing has had a notable influence on the evolution of Fombrauge, transforming it from a wine characterized by sheer power into a Saint-Emilion that shows more finesse than before.

Food & wine pairing

Red meat
Ripened cheeses
Mediterranean cuisine
Duck dishes
Mushroom dishes

Conservation

2020-2030

Product from a High Environmental Value farm

SME: ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR BORDEAUX WINES

Ratings & Awards

94/100
James Suckling
94/100
Antonio Galloni

94/100

James Suckling

"Dense, fresh red with lots of blackberry, blueberry and walnut. Hints of chocolate. Full-bodied, tight and refined while still showing power."

94/100

Antonio Galloni

"Black raspberry, black cherry, plum, chocolate, smoke, wild flowers and exotic spices are just some of the many notes that permeate Fombrauge 2016. Rich, powerful and voluptuous, it offers a striking interplay between intense black fruits and aromatic freshness. The purity of flavors is captivating. A shift to more extensive fermentation in cement tanks and less use of new wood during ageing is having a notable influence on Fombrauge's evolution, transforming it from a wine characterized by sheer power into a Saint-Émilion that shows more finesse than before."

Winegrowing singularities

Wine Singularities

Climate

Plot-by-plot soil maintenance (grassing, ploughing)
1st leaf-thinning in July
2nd leaf removal in September

Parcel-by-parcel selection by terroir, grape variety and vine age
Intra-cellular selection using drone-derived vigour and maturity maps
Hand-picked in small crates
Table sorting before and after destemming by 20 qualified personnel
Gravity-fed, small-capacity (70hl) wooden, stainless steel and concrete vats
Pre-fermentation maceration for 4 to 8 days at 8°C
Fully manual punching down
Maceration time: Merlot from 28 to 32 days, Cabernets from 26 to 28 days.
Aged 18 months: 45% in new barrels, 45% in one-wine barrels, 10% in latest-generation concrete vats.

Spring 2016 in Saint-Émilion was marked by favorable weather conditions, with mild temperatures and moderate rainfall. These conditions enabled regular flowering and good fruit set.
Summer 2016 was hot and dry in the region, with little rain and prolonged sunny days. These conditions favored optimal grape development and contributed to fruit ripening.
Autumn was mild and relatively dry in Saint-Émilion in 2016. Temperatures were favorable for a slow and complete ripening of the grapes, resulting in a good balance between sugar and acidity in the berries.
Winter 2016 in Saint-Émilion was characterized by relatively mild temperatures and generally clement weather conditions. However, there were a few cold spells, notably in January and February, with temperatures dropping below zero degrees Celsius, but without reaching extreme levels of frost.