2020 Chateau Fonplegade - St. Emilion Grand Cru Classe

Decanter.com – 94 pts – GH: *A sweetness to the blackcurrant fruit on the nose; perfumed, aromatic and interesting. Ripe and rich, this is a bold style, there’s clear power, concentration and drive. High-toned ripe fruit with spice from the tannins giving this heft right now. Long length. You feel they worked hard here to refine the overall expression, to not push too much. Lots of mint and liquorice, though, which do takeover. But, this also has great freshness and cooling blue fruit touches. I love the finish, it’s lifted, salty and strong. Wait for this.* - 01/2023

Falstaff Magazin – 93 pts – PM: *Dunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, opaker Kern, dezente Randaufhellung. Zart floral unterlegte reife Herzkirschfrucht, zart nach Brombeeren und Pflaumen, ein Hauch von Nugat und Edelholz. Kraftvoll, saftig, relativ süße Textur, runde Tannine, frische Struktur, mineralisch, zeigt Länge und Charme, wird bald antrinkbar sein, ein facettenreicher Begleiter bei Tisch.* - 02/2023

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate - 93-95 pts - LPB: *Deep purple-black colored, the 2020 Fonplegade offers up notes of chocolate-covered cherries, mulberries and blackberry preserves, followed by hints of smoked meats, cinnamon toast and potpourri. The medium to full-bodied palate bursts with juicy black fruits, supported by velvety tannins and well-balanced acidity, finishing long and fragrant.* 04/2021

Vinum Magazin – 16,5/20 pts: *Angenehme Ausbauprägung; geschmeidiger Auftakt, füllige Entwicklung über Tannin mit Schliff, gute Länge; zuverlässig und gut gemacht.*

WeinWisser – 18/20pts - WL: *Tiefes Purpur mit opaker Mitte und zartem lila Rand. Verhaltener Beginn, zarte Reduktion spürbar (BIO), Heidelbeere, Holundergelee und Lakritze, dahinter Veilchenparfüm, Milchschokolade und schwarze Johannisbeerdrops. Am vielschichtigen Gaumen mit cremiger Textur, herrlicher Extraktfülle, engmaschigem Tanningerüst und muskulösem Körper. Im konzentrierten Finale Wildkirsche, dunkle Mineralik und eine arrogante Bitterness, hier ist alles am richtigen Platz – Top Leistung dieses Jahr.* – 04/2021

JancisRobinson.com - 17/20pts - JR: *Bright but not that dense crimson. Interesting, minerally nose. Round and resolved already – dangerously evolved or just fun to drink? Not one of the most concentrated 2020 St-Émilions but very well integrated and balanced. Luscious fruit and no obvious excess of alcohol, tannin or acidity. Though a lot of tannin is lurking beneath that deceptively welcoming fruit… A hint of Marmite/yeast extract on the impressively long finish. Wholesome is not too much of an exaggeration.* - 04/2021

JamesSuckling.com - 93-94pts - JS: *A solid red with blackberry, blackcurrant and spice character. Medium body, firm and silky tannins and a flavorful finish. Nice depth of fruit and focus.* - 04/2021

Vinous.com – 94 pts – AG: *The 2020 Fonplégade is elegant, gracious and lifted, just as it was from barrel. Bright acids lend notable energy in this silky, nuanced Saint-Émilion. Crushed red berry fruit, cinnamon, mint and blood orange are all woven together in this very pretty, alluring Saint-Émilion. This is beautifully done.* - 12/2022

Vinous.com – 91 pts – NM: *Out of barrel, I compared the 2020 Fonplégade to Burgundy and now that the wine is in barrel? Well, it still conveys a purity that I associate with the Côte d'Or, quite showy with plush red fruit, cherries and cranberry. Allowing the wine to open over 15 minutes, the veins of graphite and cedar emerge and pull it back to its place of birth. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins. It's rather creamy on the entry, with black fruit laced with licorice and graphite. It just attenuates slightly towards the finish; otherwise, this is a fine Fonplégade.* - 12/2022

Thewinecellarinsider.com – 94 pts – JL: *The showy nose wants your attention due to its essence of flowers, minerals, licorice, mint leaf, and red fruits. On the palate, the wine is silky, fresh, and vibrant. Concentrated, rich, yet elegant, and light on its feet, this is a refined wine with finesse, length, and purity which is not afraid to offer its oceanic influences along with all of its layers of perfectly ripe, red, and black fruits. This will age effortlessly for two decades or more, but you can also enjoy it in its youth, if you are like me, and can't wait to see what it's all about. Drink from 2025-2045.* - 03/2023