Tasted by Jane Anson(at Primeur week tastings in Bordeaux, 01 May 2021)

Subdued aromatics, this is attractive with raspberry flavours rippling through it and an appealing density, more old school and restrained than some, with classic balance. As it opens up, floral raspberry leaf appears in the best way, juicy and unfussy with crushed herbs and baked earth. Enjoyable, definitely not trying too hard and succeeding to charm. Certified biodynamic, Alain Moueix. A yield of 40hl/ha.

Drinking Window 2025 - 2038

A firm, silky red with really refined, polished tannins. Full-bodied, very tight and integrated. Long and vivid. Linear and creamy. From biodynamically grown grapes.

Dark in color, with a fruit packed nose, the wine is round, lush, supple, silky and fresh, finishing with ripe, sweet, plums, cocoa and a nice touch of minerality that lingers. 91-93

The 2020 Château Fonroque should be another classic, outstanding Saint-Emilion. Showing the vintage’s focus, length, pure style, it has terrific concentration, medium-bodied richness, and terrific notes of ripe black cherries, peppery herbs, and violets. I like its spine of acidity, the balance is spot on, and it’s one of those concentrated yet pure, focused 2020s that will benefit from just short-term bottle age yet keep for 15+ years.

The 2020 Fonroque is initially tight and backward on the nose, a feature that I have noticed on a few recent samples, so this was given 40–50 minutes to open. It reveals quite intense black cherry, black currant and raspberry fruit, a faint hint of boot polish, and later figs and fresh dates. The palate is medium-bodied with polished tannins, sweet and plush, and quite heady toward the finish, which needs a little more refinement and freshness. I find this a bit dry on the aftertaste. Maybe it will gain more finesse during élevage.

vinous.com

Drink Date
2023 - 2033

Reviewed by Lisa Perrotti-Brown

Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2020 Fonroque gives up fragrant scents of potpourri, spice box and forest floor over a core of baked plums and boysenberries, plus a hint of anise. The medium-bodied palate has lovely freshness and soft, plush tannins, taking just a slight dip in the mid-palate and finishing a little abruptly.

Full bottle 1,325 g. Cask sample taken 7 April. Certified organic.
Medium-intensity purple. Quite a distinctive nose of vegetation and herbs rather than brow-beating sweet fruit – attractive. Then on the palate there's some richness but this seems to have more elements at play than many of its peers. More transparent and expressive. Finishes decidedly dry but not drying.