2023 Fombrauge (St-Emilion)

Deep ruby, blackberry and raspberry fruits, cocoa bean, espresso, juicy and intensely spice, needs more nuance to throw into relief the grilled oak. 90 points

The 2023 Fombrauge is terrific. Rich, deep and explosive, the 2023 packs a serious punch. There`s plenty of the textural richness Bernard Magrez loves, but it’s just a bit tempered compared to previous years. Succulent red cherry, plum, rose petal, spice, menthol, licorice and mocha infuse the 2023 with notable depth. Bright acids refresh the palate nicely. Tasted four times. 92-94 points

The 2023 Fombrauge was picked at 49hL/ha from September 14 to October 10. It has a ripe black plum, raspberry and iodine-scented bouquet that just misses the definition of some of its peers (for example, the Clos Dubreuil that I tasted just before), though a second bottle tasted at Pape-Clément exhibits a little more precision. The palate is medium-bodied with slightly granular tannins and sharp blackberry and raspberry fruit laced with black pepper. It demonstrates fine cohesion on the silky smooth finish. This should give 10 to 12 years of drinking pleasure. I would aver that this is a much more elegant Fombrauge than you would have found 10 years ago. 91-93 points