2016 Fonplegade

Tasted blind. Savoury, yeast-extract nose. And on the finish. Finishes a bit suddenly but it’s certainly distinctive. (JR)

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.

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.