About the Wine

Where do you find consistent critical praise (93-95 points across the board) and a price under $49 for a "best ever" St. Emilion Grand Cru from a top vintage? Here, at Bighammerwines.com

Chateau Fombrauge is a classified Saint Emilion Grand Cru. This Château is not only the largest Grand Cru Classé in Saint-Emilion with more than 144 acres of vineyards but its also one of the most important and ancient Châteaux dating back to more than 6 centuries. Today, this emblematic Grand Cru is owned by Bernard Magrez. 

Bernard Magrez's many successful wine ventures, besides Fombrauge, include the acclaimed Cru Classes classified Châteaux: Pape Clément, La Tour Carnet, and Clos Haut-Peyraguey, or as he likes to call them “The winning quartet .”

Bernard, aka “The man with 40 châteaux” (although today, he has more) is the owner of these “winning quartet,” and other 43 estates distributed around the world, in countries like France, Morocco, Spain, Portugal, Japan, Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, and the USA.

He started his wine journey in 1961 when he joined the Cordier group, a renowned Bordeaux wine merchant house, and only 3 years later, he created his first business, called William Pitters, a spirits producer and distributor. This led him to become a major player in the French wine and spirits business. Today, he’s considered one of the most influential people in the wine industry, and his wineries are a continuous reference for quality wines around the world.

Chateau Fombrauge winemaking is led by no other than Michel Rolland. This Rockstar, also known as the “Spielberg of Wine,” is a consultant in more than 13 countries around the world including some of the most recognized Châteaux in France.

Aging: 16 months: 40% in new barrels, 60% in one-wine barrels.

Tasting Notes: The nose is flattering with a deep fruity and floral frame. You'll experience notes of red fruits such as black cherries, and elderberry in this Chateau Fombrauge. In the mouth, the wine is immediately deliciously perfumed. The taste is very fruity and the texture is soft. Gradually, the aromas develop for an increasingly intense and deep tasting.

Reviews

This is a perfumed wine, likely thanks to a dollop (7%) of Cabernet Franc. It has ripe fruit characters, pleasant richness and a firm structure. ~95 Wine Enthusiast

There’s a very rich and powerful core of red-plum and mulberry aromas and flavors here, delivering an assertive and very shimmery, polished palate. Great tannin texture. Long and regal. Every bit as good as the 2015, but more lively in 2016. Try from 2023. ~94 James Suckling

Big and broad in feel, with a cocoa lacing from start to finish that weaves around dark fig and blackberry preserve flavors. Roasted apple wood and tobacco notes score the finish, leaving a touch of woodsy grip echoing. Best from 2022 through 2032. ~92 Wine Spectator

Medium garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Fombrauge sings of lively kirsch, baked black cherries and warm plums notes plus touches of potpourri, cigar box and garrigue. Medium to full-bodied, it fills the mouth with decadent red and black fruit preserves, structured by velvety tannins and finishing with fantastic length. ~92 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

Leafy herbs, black fruits, and damp earth notes all emerge from the 2016 Château Fombrauge, which is 89% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Malbec aged 18 months in 45% new oak. Falling under the Bernard Magrez umbrella, it's a totally charming, forward, medium to full-bodied 2016 that has notable complexity, good (not great) mid-palate depth, no hard edges, and loads of character. Drink it over the coming 10-15 years or so. ~91 Jeb Dunnuck 

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