2020 Fombrauge (St-Emilion)

Confident and structured, offering a velvet texture and dense plum and blackberry fruits, plenty of punch with ground coffee on the finish. Now one of the largest estates in St-Emilion at 58ha. Olivier Desmond technical director. 91 points

The 2020 Fombrauge has a crisp blackberry, blueberry and cedar nose, subtle pine aromas filtering through with aeration. The medium-bodied palate delivers crunchy black fruit laced with cedar and very light ash notes. Good acidity here, and nice structure; a convincingly more classic Fombrauge, this, with fine grip toward the finish. I approve. 92-94 points

The 2020 Fombrauge has a deep garnet-purple color and expressive notes of chocolate-covered cherries, mulberries and baked plums, plus hints of espresso, graphite and cedar chest with a waft of Sichuan pepper. The medium to full-bodied palate is elegantly crafted with lovely freshness and a well-tamed, grainy texture, finishing long and earthy. 91-93 points

Dark lustrous blackish crimson. Aromatic and then very sweet palate entry with some pretty emphatic tannins and acid sort of bolted on at the end. Extremely concentrated and flattering with impressive persistence. A little savoury quality on the end so this is not sickly. This could be very appealing. So of course, as usual, I am scoring it without taking the bottle weight into account. 16.5 points