2009 Château Fonplegade
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Tasting notes
This is luscious, packed with damson and black cherry fruit, freshly cut sage and rosemary herbs, lilting freshness. Plenty of tannic grip, with a velvety texture, with added slate and pumice stone texture reflecting the clay limestone soils. An excellent wine, with plenty of life ahead, great stuff. A buy. 50% new oak for ageing, Stephen and Denise Adams owners.
Critic scores
Robert Parker
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
Although this estate flies under the radar, they have an incredible hillside terroir and producer brilliant wines. The 2009 Château Fonplégade is still youthfully ruby/purple-hued and has a sumptuous bouquet of red currants, mulled cherries, incense, tobacco, and white truffle. With full-bodied richness, a rounded, expansive texture, gorgeous tannins, and a blockbuster, heady finish, this isn't for those craving lightweight aromas and flavors, yet it stays balanced and has plenty of mid-palate depth, followed by a great finish. Beautifully done, it’s going to evolve for another 10-15 years.
Blackish purple. Sweet, luscious, very ripe – I would so readily put it in Australia rather than Bordeaux! Hard work on the end. No finesse. (JR)