"A young red with depth and finess. The ultra fine tannins are firm and formed, already giving this wine impressive energy."

"Dark purple colour violet hue and black core. Expressive and elegant nose with distinct aroma reminiscent of blackcurrants and blackberries, gingerbread and hints of vanilla. On the palate firm yet ripe tannins, very good structure, juicy fruit and elegant spiciness. A wine with freshness and very convincing length."

« La robe est grenat sombre avec un beau nez épicé et de cèdre. Le vin est souple, suave, charmeur, belle finale avec de la fraîcheur. Belle réussite au niveau d’un cru classé. »

"Dark purple colour with violet hue and black core. Opulent yet elegant nose with intense aroma reminiscent of blackcurrants and black cherries, cloves, nutmeg and vanilla, hints of cocoa in the background. On the palate distinct oak influence, well structured with ripe tannins, delicate acidity, rich fruit and mild spices in the finish. Very convincing length."

« Linear and structured with a serious line of tannins running through the center palate and they are fine and so polished. Strength with finesse here. »

« Always a terrific wine, especially over the past seven to eight years, the 2020 Château Fonbadet offers a rich, mouth-filling, medium to full-bodied style delivering lots of classic darker currants fruit, a touch of flowers and floral nuances plenty of background oak, and wonderful purity of fruit. I love its tannins. This is unquestionably going to be an outstanding Pauillac that will benefit from 4-5 years of bottle age and have 20-25 years of overall longevity. »

"This is another beautifully crafted barrel sample with blackcurrant and mineral character. It's medium-to-fullbodied with fine tannins and a pretty finish"

"Attaque souple. Bouche chaleureuse et ronde, plutôt sur le fruit. Des tanins à grains moyens, élégants.Tout cela au service d'un très bel équilibre pour un vin séduisant."

"Pourpre violacé. Bouquet invitant, complexe, marqué par des notes fruitées et minérales avec des framboises et du graphite. En bouche le vin révèle bien son élevage mais il est également bien soutenu par sa structure qui octroie de la fraîcheur et du fruit jusqu'en finale, et par ses tanins qui sont parfaitement intégrés. Fonbadet 2019 sera certainement accessible dans sa jeunesse et on pourra donc le savourer en attendant sagement Château Pauillac."

"Rouge grenat aux reflets violets. Bouquet complexe, filigrane, se révélant lentement. Classiques notes de cèdre et de graphite. Avec un peu d'air le fruit apparaît également au travers de myrtilles. Tout comme le nez, le palais se révèle lentement. Il est doté de tannins fins, précis et à de la densité. Fonbadet allie puissance et finesse et est très prometteur. Bravo.

"The 2018 Fonbadet is gorgeous. Deep, pliant and expressive, the 2018 has so much to offer. In this vintage, Fonbadet has a bit more depth and overall richness than is often the case, which is not a bad thing at all. Black plum, spice and leather all resonate into the striking, textured finish. The 2018 is very nicely done."

"I loved the 2018 Château Fonbadet, a Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated blend that's aging in 50% new french oak. Classic Pauillac notes of cassis, lead pencil, graphite, cold fireplace, and ample earthy minerality all flow to a medium to full-bodied, elegant wine that stays tight, focused, and structured on the palate. It's going to need 4-5 years of bottle age, but it's a beauty."

"Full-bodied and loaded with dark, red berries, wet earth, forest leaf and crème de cassis, this wine has body, Pauillac character, freshness and a round finish exploding with juicy, peppery, sweet red fruits."

"The fruit here was picked between September 25th and october 16th, and the yield was 50 hl/ha. This shows toasted praline and lightly baked black cherry fruits on the nose. The palate shows a rather pretty style, a medium-boddied substance, confident with a rather open and accessible tecture. The fruit is all leafy plum, with a ripe bed of grippy tannins, and bright acidity. This is a good result for Fonbadet."

"Pretty, bright dark fruit with blueberry and currant aromas and flavors. Medium body and firm, silky tannins.

"Dark purple red with violet hue and black core. Aromatic nose reminiscent of dark chocolate, roasting aroma, ripe blackberries and blackcurrant jam, vanilla in the background. On the palate well structured with firm but mature tannins, ecellent mouthfeel and convincing length."

"Ruby. Blueberries, anise, some spices, scented nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries and spices, juicy. A fine Fonbadet."

"Nez puissant, très fruits noirs, résineux, crasse de fer, bouche volumineuse et chaleureuse, avec des tannins très solides, du gras et beaucoup d'énergie. Solide et stylé."

"Une prise de bois un peu complexe mais moins imposante que les années précédentes caractérise un bouquet de fruits noirs, d'épices. Bouche massive, dense, profonde avec des tannins équilibrés. Très Pauillac dans sa construction. On l'aimerait plus suave. Notons les efforts que la propriété réalise depuis quelques millésimes maintenant."

"Robe presque noire avec un seyant nez de fruits noirs et de cèdre. Le vin est de bonne densité, assez tannique mais fin, d'une belle longueur. Certes il n'est pas au niveau du splendide 2016, pas la même puissance, mais il possède une belle harmonie qui le rendra plaisant plus vite."

"Dense with layers of black currant, this is a fine wine that is full of opulent tannins and rich fruit. Ample acidity cuts through the richness expressing the freshness of the vintage. Drink from 2023."

"A tight and juicy red with blackberry and black cherry character.

Medium bodied tannic and focused."

" Pourpre violacé. Bouquet filigrane révélant des notes de cerises et de pruneaux. Je relève également une touche de fèves de cacao et des notes de graphite. Attaque friande. Au palais, le corps est de moyenne densité. Les tannins ont un grain fin et sont bien intégrés tandis la structure assure bien les arrières et confère une note rafraîchissante. Bonne tension en fin de bouche et finale fruitée."

"A 70/30 split of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot from the Peyronie family, the 2017 Château Fonbadet is a serious effort revealing a deep purple color as well as abundant aromas and flavors of blueberries, cassis, graphite and spring flowers. It has the classic cool minerality of the vintage, medium to full-bodied richness, and ripe tannin. Give it a few years and it should keep for two decades."

"Cedar, tobacco and crisp, bright, fresh red fruits lead off the nose. Medium bodied, soft textured, forward and easy drinking, this wine has charisma and early drinkability."

"The tentative blend of the 2017 Fonbadet is 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Merlot. Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, it gives notions of crushed black berries, black cherries and baked plums with hints of licorice and dark chocolate plus an earthy undercurrent. The palate is medium-bodied, firm and grainy with plenty of freshness and a savory finish."

"A tight and very focused wine from here that is diales in with dark fruit and pretty tannins. 

Medium body and a fresh finish.

Showing its real potential."

The wine is dark, fat, ripe, sweet, fleshy and low in acid, especially for this vintage

The 2016 Château Pauillac is one of the hidden jewels of the year. Ripe, juicy and voluptuous, it possesses striking depth and lushness. Ripe red cherry, plum, lavender, spice and new leather are all pushed forward. Sexy and racy to the core, the 2016 is flat-out gorgeous. Above all else, it is a wine of pure and total pleasure. I loved it.

Particularly dark. Beguiling ripeness on the nose. Pretty evolved but very pretty and charming. Far from a typical long-lived Pauillac, but it should give pleasure. And under all that fruit there is quite a bit of tannin!
Drink 2020-2029