Château Fombrauge Red 2019

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: 90% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc
Age of vines: 25 years
Planting density: 6,600 vines/ha

Tasting

Intense ruby red. Expressive, complex, with black fruits, smoky notes, a little rum-soaked fruit, herbs and vanilla. On the palate, it's supple, round and fleshy, without being heavy, modern, perfectly vinified, a little emotionless but of very, very good quality. Long on the palate, balanced and fresh despite its 15% alcohol content. A wine that will certainly find its audience.

Food & wine pairing

Red meat
Ripened cheeses
Mediterranean cuisine
Duck dishes
Mushroom dishes

Conservation

2025-2035

Product from a High Environmental Value farm

SME: ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR BORDEAUX WINES

Ratings & Awards

93/100
Yves Beck
94/100
Wine Enthusiast

93/100

Yves Beck

"Purplish purple. Filigree bouquet marked by spices and dark berry notes, as well as a touch of grenadine. I also notice candied nuances and a woody character with vanilla and mocha. On the palate, the wine is suave and compact. It has breed thanks to its structure, while the tannins provide fullness. Only the finish needs to gain in finesse. It is somewhat warm and drying. Normally, ageing should erase this. To be continued.

94/100

Wine Enthusiast

"Barrel sample. Although this wine is tightly structured, it also has plenty of generous dark fruit that gives it succulent ripeness. This wine should certainly age well."

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 16 months: 40% in new barrels, 60% in one-wine barrels.

Spring 2019 in Saint-Émilion was characterized by rather favorable weather conditions. Temperatures were mild, enabling good flowering and successful fruit set. Rainfall was moderate and well distributed, providing good conditions for initial vine development.
Summer 2019 was hot and sunny in Saint-Émilion, which favored optimal ripening of the grapes. The high temperatures contributed to good sugar accumulation in the berries, while the cool nights preserved the grapes' acidity, which is crucial for the balance of red wines.
Autumn was also kind to Saint-Émilion in 2019. Sunny days and mild temperatures ensured a healthy, ripe harvest. Winegrowers were able to choose the optimum moment for harvesting, benefiting from grapes that were perfectly ripe and rich in aroma.
Winter in Saint-Émilion in 2019 was generally moderate. Winter temperatures were rather mild, with occasional periods of cold but no intense frost. This was beneficial for the vines, as excessively low temperatures can damage buds and vines.