2007 de Fonbel
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Tasting notes
(70% merlot, 20% cabernet franc, 7% petit verdot and 3% carmenere; 30% in new oak and the rest in cuve Good dense ruby-red color. Blackberry and a whiff of meat on the reduced nose. Soft but juicy, with good vinosity to the dark fruit and menthol flavors. Lacks force but there's good fruit here. The carmenere parcel, included in this wine for the first time, is planted at a density of 12,600 vines per hectare-or 1.18 meters by 0.67-according to owner Alain Vauthier.
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Robert Parker
More reviews and scores
Rated -No tasting note given.
Carmenère 3%, Petit Verdot 7%, plus Merlot with Cabernet Franc . Very rich and round. Almost soupy but lots of bang for buck. Inky finish. Very dry. Very flattering. Lively. Tasted sighted at Ch Ausone. This could be a good buy. (JR)
Rated -No tasting note given. Apr 2008, www.robertparker.com
About the producer
Owned by the same family as Ch. Ausone, Ch. de Fonbel is one of the best-value Saint-Emilion estates. It has a long history stretching back to the Roman era, however its story really begins when Alain Vauthier purchased the property in 1971.