Wine Advisor
Fombrauge 2019
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: William Kelley
The 2019 Fombrauge exhibits rich aromas of cherries, dark chocolate, plum preserve, licorice and new oak, followed by a full-bodied, rich and fleshy palate that's soft and fleshy, with a sweet core of fruit, ripe acids and rich, powdery tannins. This is a generous, front-loaded Saint-Émilion from Bernard Magrez.
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
The 2019 Fombrauge is one of the best wines I have tasted from this property in some time. It shows all the richness that is typical of Bernard Magrez's style but with less heaviness and a good deal of aromatic presence that helps balance things out. Sweet dark cherry, chocolate, leather, licorice and mocha build into the resonant, super-expressive finish. The 2019 is a classy Fombrauge.
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
Fombrauge is super-expressive in 2019. Supple and nuanced, with lovely aromatic brightness, the 2019 has a lot to offer. There is plenty of the richness that is such a signature of Bernard Magrez's wines, and yet all the elements are so nicely balanced. Sweet red cherry, mocha, espresso, dried flowers and leather are some of the many aromas and flavors that give this silky Saint Émilion so much appeal. Tasted two times.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The 2019 Fombrauge has quite a perfumed bouquet with red berry fruit, a splash of balsamic and Asian spice. Quite flattering in style. The palate is medium-bodied with edgy tannins, a fine bead of acidity, not overly-complex and the oak impedes slightly towards the finish. But a couple of years in bottle and I believe this will be drinking well. Tasted blind at the Southwold annual tasting.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The 2019 Fombrauge, which was bottled in spring 2021, retains the opulence that I found from barrel, still showing that heady mixture of blackberry, blueberry and a touch of cooked meat, if perhaps just requiring a little more delineation. The palate is medium-bodied, fleshy and generous, with succulent ripe tannins, a satiny texture and a gossamer finish that slips down the throat. Afford it 5–6 years and this should evolve into a lovely Saint-Émilion.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The 2019 Fombrauge has a delightful, very pure and opulent bouquet with vivid blackberries, blueberry and vanilla. The oak is nicely assimilated. The palate is well balanced with succulent ripe tannins, well judged acidity and a lightly spiced finish that lingers with just a dab of salted liquorice. This is showing a great deal of promise.
About the Producer
Chateau Fombrauge is located in the Saint-Emilion appellation on the right bank of Bordeaux, France, and was awarded the Saint-Emilion Grand Cru in 2012. The word "Fombrauge" is derived from the word "fons brogiera", which means "a spring surrounded by bushes and briars". The first written records of Château Fombrauge date from about six centuries ago, when Jacques de Canolle, a young French nobleman, acquired the land in 1466, and in 1575 the property passed into the hands of Peter Canolle, Jacques' grandson. At the end of the 17th century, Château Fombrauge became the property of the Dumas family by marriage. In the mid-18th century, the family introduced a series of advanced winemaking techniques at Château Fombrault - selection of grape varieties, pruning of vines and vinification of plots, etc. - with great success. When the French Revolution broke out, the owner, Jacques Dumas, was guillotined in 1794. Château Fombrauge became a national property until 1808, when it reverted to the Dumas family. The estate was then sold to Ferdinand de Taffard. In 1987, Château Fombraux was bought by a Danish wine merchant, and most of its wines were sold to the Scandinavian market, where they were gradually forgotten. In 1999, Bernard Magrez bought the estate and has been running it ever since. In September 2012, Château Fombrauge was officially selected as a Grand Cru in Saint-Emilion. The vineyards of Château Fombrault cover 58.6 hectares of calcareous clay, limestone and sandstone soils, with a variety of soil types and orientations that make the wines complex and individual. The winery actively embraces new technologies while adhering to traditional concepts, introducing advanced drones to assist in vineyard management. The grapes are harvested by hand after ripening and stored in fine crates to prevent breakage and oxidation. In terms of winemaking, Château Fombraux still adheres to the traditional philosophy. The grapes are carefully selected before and after destemming, and are then fermented in wooden vats, concrete tanks, stainless steel tanks and clay pots. During the fermentation process, the vines are manually capped to extract the tannins and flavors. With the cooperation of the "flying winemaker" Michelle Rolland and the professional winemaking team, Château Fombrauge continues to offer its wine lovers the best quality wines from the excellent terroir of Saint-Emilion. The main wine is the Chateau Fombrauge (Saint Emilion Grand Cru Classe, France), a wine with aromas and complexity, aromas of red fruits, blackcurrants and cherries, a smooth and rounded palate, and an elegant and fresh finish that is very attractive. In addition, the winery also offers the Chateau Magrez Fombrauge (Saint-Emilion Grand Cru, France), the Prelude de Fombrauge (Saint-Emilion Grand Cru, France) The wines are Magrez Fombrauge Blanc (Bordeaux, France), Prelude de Fombrauge (Saint-Emilion Grand Cru, France) and Magrez Fombrauge Blanc (Bordeaux, France).
