2020 Chateau Fonplegade Saint Emilion Grand Cru

The right bank of Bordeaux, Saint-Emilion in particular, is known for its rich, fertile soil, making it an ideal location for great vineyards. In the case of Chateau Fonplegade, the winery stands out for its deep-rooted connection to the fertile land, while staying committed to embracing modern innovation. The result is a wine of unmatched quality.

Saint-Emilion is no stranger to mind-blowing wine, mainly because of its rich and fertile limestone and clay soils. One of the wineries taking full advantage is Chateau Fonplegade, led by dedicated owners Denise and Stephen Adams. Their dedication lies in ensuring each of their bottles embodies the essence of the terroir. In their own words, "At Fonplégade, we farm our vineyard not block by block, not even row by row, but carefully, vine by vine."  Denise Adams.

The winery is located atop the limestone plateau, where the best of these vineyards have flourished since the late 1500s. In 1852, Jean-Pierre Beylot, a renowned wine merchant,  recognized its potential and turned the winery into what it is today. Fast forward to 2004, when Denise and Stephen Adams were captivated by the terroir, rich history, and beauty of the grounds. Over the next 17 years, they embarked on a tough, but rewarding journey of revitalization, renovation, and restoration, ensuring every step is completed with passion and dedication.

Today, the winery is able to farm with a biodynamic certification, where a holistic approach is taken to every element of their farming. While the accommodating terroir plays an important role in the excellent wines, the biodynamic farming definitely contributes too.

The 2020 Chateau Fonplegade Saint-Emilion Grand Cru is particularly special since the wine is hand-farmed, using only organic and biodynamic grapes. As a result, the wines are elegant and sophisticated, yet carry a powerful tannin structure. 

2020 was an outstanding year for Bordeaux. Vinous Media blessed this year with a 98-point review and said, "Two thousand-twenty is an exceptional vintage for Bordeaux, certainly the best in the 2018-2020 trilogy. Quality is exceptionally high among the great wines of Saint-Émilion and Pomerol."  

Aging: The wine has a unique aging technique with 16-20 months in French oak barrels, while 10% is spent in egg-shaped concrete vessels and 10% in amphoras.