2017 Chateau Villars - Fronsac AC

Decanter.com – 90 pts – JA: *Persistent and attractive, with dark damson fruits, there is a juiciness here and a lovely salinity on the finish – even if the overall fruit is a notch below the ripeness of recent years. Harvest took place between September 24 and October 4, so the fruit could recover from the September rain. The blend is a little different from usual, as the Cabernet Franc faced the adversities of the season better than the Merlot. This estate sold all second generation fruit off in bulk, giving 66% first wine production.* - 04/2018

Vinum Magazin – 16/20pts: *Fruchtig mit präsenten Ausbaunoten; geschmeidiger Ansatz, fruchtig, mit Schliff, von guter Länge, auch im Finale spürbare, aber gut abgestimmte Ausbaunoten; gefällig, macht Spass, etwas belüften und jung geniessen oder leicht gereift.* - 09/2020

JancisRobinson.com – 16/20pts – JH: *Inky crimson. Dusty dark fruit. Intense and almost savoury. Savoury and spiced on the palate. Firm and chewy with real depth and grip. Persistent but needs time to gain refinement.* - 03/2018

Vinous.com – 91 pts – AG: *The 2017 Villars is gorgeous. Inky dark fruit, menthol, licorice, spice and chocolate give the 2017 its overt, racy personality, but it’s the wine's presence and length that I admire most. Villars is a real sleeper in 2017.* - 03/2020

Vinous.com - 88 pts - NM: *The 2017 Villars has an intense bouquet with perfumed dark cherries, boysenberry and subtle iodine aromas that are well defined and focused. The palate is medium-bodied with slightly chewy tannins, gentle grip with black pepper sprinkled over the dark berry fruit on the slightly austere finish. But overall, this is a well crafted Fronsac that should give a decade of drinking pleasure.* - 02/2020