CHÂTEAU FOMBRAUGE

The 2017 Fombrauge was partially touched by the frost in the lower reaches of the vineyard. It was picked from 21 September to 7 October, relatively late for this vintage. It underwent two leaf-thinning and ages for 16 months in 40% new oak, the remainder one-year old. It offers raspberry and crushed strawberry fruit on the nose, the oak nicely integrated with incense and iris aromas emerging with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with saturated ripe tannin, plush and sensual in the mouth with lightly spiced red and black fruit tinged with dried blood and white pepper. This is a well-crafted Fombrauge that will probably require three or four years in bottle. Drinking range: 2022 - 2036 Rating: 90-92 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (May 2018)

The 2017 Fombrauge was partially touched by the frost in the lower reaches of the vineyard. It was picked from 21 September to 7 October, relatively late for this vintage. It underwent two leaf-thinning and ages for 16 months in 40% new oak, the remainder one-year old. It offers raspberry and crushed strawberry fruit on the nose, the oak nicely integrated with incense and iris aromas emerging with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with saturated ripe tannin, plush and sensual in the mouth with lightly spiced red and black fruit tinged with dried blood and white pepper. This is a well-crafted Fombrauge that will probably require three or four years in bottle. Drinking range: 2022 - 2036 Rating: 90-92 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (May 2018)

Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, the 2017 Fombrauge leaps from the glass with expressive red and black currants notes and a plummy undercurrent plus wafts of lilacs and wood smoke. The palate is medium-bodied with a finely grained frame and backbone freshness supporting the elegant fruit, finishing on a lingering earthy note. Rating: 92-94 Lisa Perrotti-Brown, RobertParker.com (Apr 2018)