Château de Fonbel, St Emilion, 2025
As ever, Alain Vauthier's Fonbel will be one of the best value buys from the right bank. This little St Emilion boasts lots of wild, hedgerow fruit aromas. There's good delineation and energy, a lick of crème de mûre, tobacco, sage, hints of oak spice, nutmeg and tilled earth. There's a nice balance and expression to the fruit. Juicy and well-constructed.
critic reviews
The 2025 Château de Fonbel was picked between 9 and 23 September, and this year the blend includes 5% Carmenère. It has a light, brambly nose with redcurrant and cranberry, a little tertiary in style. The palate is medium-bodied, with soft tannins on entry, a little leathery, and it just needs to muster a little more brightness on the finish. I will be prudent with my assessment for now.
A little more serious than the Simard, dusky rose petals, slate and chalk, attractive dark fruits, a real kick on the finish, savoury and leafy. Harvest September 9 to 23. In organic conversion. 45hl/h yield, 3.7ph.
Youthfully primary aromas of blackberries and cassis introduce the 2025 Fonbel, a medium-bodied, bright and vibrant wine that belies the heat of the vintage.