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Chateau Fonplegade Saint Emilion Grand Cru 2016 750ml

size
750ml
country
France
region
Bordeaux
appellation
Saint Emilion
DC
96
WA
96
JS
95
JD
94
VM
93
WE
92
WS
92
Additional vintages
DC
96
Rated 96 by Decanter
Pure, dark chocolate spread, liquorice root and slate edging. Rich fruits, but with crushed mint leaves gathering pace though the palate to lift things up. Just the nose itself would keep you occupied for a good while, and on the palate it jumps out of the glass. Seriously impressive stuff, clear minerality, pulsing with life. The 2015 vintage was seen at the time as being better in St Emilion but with every year that passes it becomes more clear that 2016 is the one with real legs. One of the real bargains of the vintage also, as this is available at around £30 in bond per bottle in the UK market. 60% new oak, 30% one year and the rest in cement eggs. Drinking Window 2027 - 2040. ... More details
Image of bottle
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Chateau Fonplegade Saint Emilion Grand Cru 2016 750ml

SKU 875348
Case Only Purchase
Long-term Pre-Arrival
$377.70
/case
$62.95
/750ml bottle
Quantity
min order 6 bottles
* This is a Long-term Pre-arrival item and is available for online ordering only. This item will ship on a future date after a 4-8 months transfer time. For additional details about Pre-arrival Items please visit our FAQ page.
Professional Ratings
DC
96
WA
96
JS
95
JD
94
VM
93
WE
92
WS
92
DC
96
Rated 96 by Decanter
Pure, dark chocolate spread, liquorice root and slate edging. Rich fruits, but with crushed mint leaves gathering pace though the palate to lift things up. Just the nose itself would keep you occupied for a good while, and on the palate it jumps out of the glass. Seriously impressive stuff, clear minerality, pulsing with life. The 2015 vintage was seen at the time as being better in St Emilion but with every year that passes it becomes more clear that 2016 is the one with real legs. One of the real bargains of the vintage also, as this is available at around £30 in bond per bottle in the UK market. 60% new oak, 30% one year and the rest in cement eggs. Drinking Window 2027 - 2040.
WA
96
Rated 96 by Wine Advocate
Medium to deep garnet-purple in color, the 2016 Fonplegade opens with a very savory nose of smoked meats, tapenade, sautéed herbs and beef drippings over a core of plum preserves, chocolate-covered cherries and cedar chest plus wafts of violets and cigars. Medium to full-bodied, the palate possesses both intensity and elegance, with the black fruit layers superbly framed by firm, fine-grained tannins and wonderful freshness, finishing long and mineral laced.
JS
95
Rated 95 by James Suckling
A very suave, modern-style St.-Emilion with fine blackberry aromas and some bitter chocolate. Excellent balance of fruit, generous velvety tannins and lively acidity on the rich palate. Long, clean and supple finish. Drink or hold.
JD
94
Rated 94 by Jeb Dunnuck
Matching the blockbuster 2015 in quality, the 2016 Château Fonplégade is a ripe, fleshy, sexy wine that's loaded with notions of jammy blackberry, cassis, dried earth, and spice. With full-bodied richness, plenty of mid-palate depth, and a layered, fruit-forward style, it nevertheless has solid underlying structure and length, all promising a solid evolution. I’d be happy to drink bottles any time over the coming two decades or more.
VM
93
Rated 93 by Vinous Media
The 2016 Fonplégade offers intense blackberry, boysenberry and fig on the nose, which is quite ravishing in style but well defined. The balanced, slightly citric palate delivers sappy black fruit and impressive energy; it feels modern and velvety yet retains admirable delineation through to the rounded finish. This is a very promising Saint-Émilion from Stephen and Denise Adams.
WE
92
Rated 92 by Wine Enthusiast
Barrel Sample. This densely concentrated wine is dark and serious, with powerful tannins. It has a bitter edge and black chocolate flavors along with dark plum-skin flavor. The structure will stand this big wine in good stead as it ages.
WS
92
Rated 92 by Wine Spectator
Delightfully fruit-filled, with warm, creamy layers of cassis, raspberry puree and plum reduction gliding through atop a velvety structure. Anise and fruitcake notes take hold on the finish, adding range and extra detail. A bit forward in style, but an echo of chalky minerality keeps this honest. Drink now through 2033. 4,000 cases made.
Product Details
size
750ml
country
France
region
Bordeaux
appellation
Saint Emilion
Additional vintages
Overview
Pure, dark chocolate spread, liquorice root and slate edging. Rich fruits, but with crushed mint leaves gathering pace though the palate to lift things up. Just the nose itself would keep you occupied for a good while, and on the palate it jumps out of the glass. Seriously impressive stuff, clear minerality, pulsing with life. The 2015 vintage was seen at the time as being better in St Emilion but with every year that passes it becomes more clear that 2016 is the one with real legs. One of the real bargains of the vintage also, as this is available at around £30 in bond per bottle in the UK market. 60% new oak, 30% one year and the rest in cement eggs. Drinking Window 2027 - 2040.
green grapes

Varietal: Red Bordeaux

There are few regions in the world with stricter regulations in regards to wine production and grape varietals than those found in Bordeaux, France. Here, in the home of the world's finest wines, the type and quality of grapes used is of utmost importance, and the legendary wineries which work on the banks of the Gironde river have mastered the careful art of juice blending to find the perfect balance for their produce. Whilst there are six 'official' Bordeaux grapes, the two key varietals for almost every fine Bordeaux wine are Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, and with good reason. Whilst Cabernet Sauvignon grapes are renowned for their acidity and astringency, strong fruit and spice flavors and full body, Merlot grapes are notably rounded, soft, fleshy and lighter on tannin. The combination of these two varietals, along with a small percentage of (commonly) Petit Verdot or Cabernet Franc, is the perfect balancing act – the two grape varietals cancel out each others weaker points, and accentuate all that is good about the other.
barrel

Region: Bordeaux

Of all the wine regions in France, the mostly highly esteemed and famous is surely Bordeaux. Most commonly associated with their superb examples of blended red wines, usually made with a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot varietals, Bordeaux consistently demonstrates that their mix of traditional and modern wine-making styles is the recipe for fame and success. The region benefits greatly from its humid climate, and the fact that its clay and gravel based soils are perfect for growing the fine grape varietals which flourish there. The region is split into quite distinct sub-regions, with the finest generally believed to be the Left Bank and the Médoc region, where many of the most well known chateaux are based and produce their wonderful red and white wines.
fields

Country: France

France is renowned across the globe for its quality wines and the careful expertise which goes into making them, but what is truly remarkable about this relatively small country is the vast range of wines it produces in such huge amounts each year. Not only are the finest red wines in the world said to come from the beautiful regions of Bordeaux and Burgundy, but elsewhere in the country we find the Champagne region, and areas such as the Rhone Valley and the Loire, whose white wines consistently receive awards and accolades by the plenty. This range is a result of the great variety of climatic conditions and terrain found in France, coupled with generations of wine makers working within single appellations. Their knowledge of specific terroirs and grape varieties has, over time, perfected the production of wines within their region, and the end results continue to impress the world to this day.
bottle and glass

Appellation: Saint Emilion

Saint Emilion is a very special sub-region found in France's Bordeaux, and is situated on the highly esteemed and world renowned right bank of the Gironde river. Here, the mineral rich gravel and clay based soils provide plenty of nutrition and character to the grape varietals which are grown, and the warm and sunny climate helps them ripen each year to their fullest. The majority of the chateaus in Saint Emilion produce blended red wines, using a carefully balanced blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot grapes. The result is something truly wonderful – finely crafted red wines which express all of the finest points of each varietal, and holding plenty of fascinating and complex character, flavors and aromas which have helped make this sub-region one of the best in the world.
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More Details
green grapes

Varietal: Red Bordeaux

There are few regions in the world with stricter regulations in regards to wine production and grape varietals than those found in Bordeaux, France. Here, in the home of the world's finest wines, the type and quality of grapes used is of utmost importance, and the legendary wineries which work on the banks of the Gironde river have mastered the careful art of juice blending to find the perfect balance for their produce. Whilst there are six 'official' Bordeaux grapes, the two key varietals for almost every fine Bordeaux wine are Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, and with good reason. Whilst Cabernet Sauvignon grapes are renowned for their acidity and astringency, strong fruit and spice flavors and full body, Merlot grapes are notably rounded, soft, fleshy and lighter on tannin. The combination of these two varietals, along with a small percentage of (commonly) Petit Verdot or Cabernet Franc, is the perfect balancing act – the two grape varietals cancel out each others weaker points, and accentuate all that is good about the other.
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Region: Bordeaux

Of all the wine regions in France, the mostly highly esteemed and famous is surely Bordeaux. Most commonly associated with their superb examples of blended red wines, usually made with a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot varietals, Bordeaux consistently demonstrates that their mix of traditional and modern wine-making styles is the recipe for fame and success. The region benefits greatly from its humid climate, and the fact that its clay and gravel based soils are perfect for growing the fine grape varietals which flourish there. The region is split into quite distinct sub-regions, with the finest generally believed to be the Left Bank and the Médoc region, where many of the most well known chateaux are based and produce their wonderful red and white wines.
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Country: France

France is renowned across the globe for its quality wines and the careful expertise which goes into making them, but what is truly remarkable about this relatively small country is the vast range of wines it produces in such huge amounts each year. Not only are the finest red wines in the world said to come from the beautiful regions of Bordeaux and Burgundy, but elsewhere in the country we find the Champagne region, and areas such as the Rhone Valley and the Loire, whose white wines consistently receive awards and accolades by the plenty. This range is a result of the great variety of climatic conditions and terrain found in France, coupled with generations of wine makers working within single appellations. Their knowledge of specific terroirs and grape varieties has, over time, perfected the production of wines within their region, and the end results continue to impress the world to this day.
bottle and glass

Appellation: Saint Emilion

Saint Emilion is a very special sub-region found in France's Bordeaux, and is situated on the highly esteemed and world renowned right bank of the Gironde river. Here, the mineral rich gravel and clay based soils provide plenty of nutrition and character to the grape varietals which are grown, and the warm and sunny climate helps them ripen each year to their fullest. The majority of the chateaus in Saint Emilion produce blended red wines, using a carefully balanced blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot grapes. The result is something truly wonderful – finely crafted red wines which express all of the finest points of each varietal, and holding plenty of fascinating and complex character, flavors and aromas which have helped make this sub-region one of the best in the world.