Saint-Emilion.
85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc.
Château Fonplégade is a prestigious wine estate situated in the Saint-Émilion appellation on the Right Bank of Bordeaux, France. The château's history dates back to the 13th century, and it spans 18 hectares of prime vineyard land. The estate benefits from a diverse terroir of limestone and clay soils, ideal for cultivating Merlot, which dominates the vineyard, along with Cabernet Franc and a small amount of Cabernet Sauvignon. Known for its commitment to biodynamic and organic farming practices, Château Fonplégade employs meticulous vineyard management and traditional winemaking techniques to produce wines of exceptional quality and elegance.
Antonio Galloni - Vinous: 95/100
The 2023 Fonplégade is a classy, elegant Saint-Émilion. There's a bit more mid-palate density here than in recent years, which is not a bad thing for this wine. A touch more extraction for the Merlots along with a more refined use of oak really shapes the 2023. This is one of the finest recent Fonplégades I have tasted. Bravo.
James Suckling: 94/100
Flavors of blackberry, dark chocolate and coffee beans with a pine-like tinge. Medium body. Fine, round tannins. Lovely already.
Jeb Dunnuck: 93/100
Cassis, tobacco, truffly earth, and chocolaty oak emerge from the 2023 Château Fonplegade, a richer 2023 with medium to full-bodied depth, ripe, velvety tannins, and outstanding length. It's a bigger, richer effort in the vintage that brings solid depth. The blend is 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc, raised in 40% new barrels, 30% in once-used oak, 20% in concrete eggs, and the balance in amphora.