Château de Fonbel Château de Fonbel 2023 750ml

The 2023 de Fonbel is a very pretty, delicate Saint-Émilion. Rose petal, mint, blood orange, dried herbs, cedar and pipe tobacco give the 2023 a good bit of complexity to play off its mid-weight structure. All this needs is a bit more persistence on the finish. Then again, most of this is young-vine Merlot planted on lower slopes with sandy/gravelly soils.

A floral bouquet of violet, cassis, lilac and spices introduces the 2023 Fonbel, a medium- to full-bodied wine that is enveloping and sapid, built around a layered, juicy core of fruit framed by velvety tannins and concluding with a long, fresh and gourmand finish. The blend comprises 64% Merlot, 28% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8% Carménère.