Château Fontenil 2022 Fronsac

The Wine Independent (Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW)
(92-94)+/100 punten
The 2022 Fontenil is deep garnet-purple in color. After a swirl or two, evocative notes of baked black plums, boysenberry preserves, and dark chocolate-covered cherries erupt from the nose, followed by nuances of menthol and crushed rocks. The full-bodied palate is built like a brick house, with very firm, grainy tannins and soft acidity supporting the dense, muscular fruit, finishing long. Note that no Defi was produced this year due to some hail damage in June.

James Suckling
(93-94)/100 punten
Blackberry, hazelnut and tar aromas and flavors follow through to a medium body, with firm and savory tannins that run the length of the wine. Savory finish. Excellent structure.

Falstaff
94/100 punten
Dark ruby, opaque core, purple reflections, subtle brightening on the rim. Ripe plums, black cherries, some nougat, a shy bouquet. Juicy on the palate with ripe plums, some nougat, underpinned by vivid tannins, chocolatey finish, a wine with depth and a spicy food wine. Certain ageing potential.

Jeb Dunnuck
(92-94)/100 punten
The 2022 Château Fontenil is a beauty, and as with the Castillon region, Fronsac has some true gems that compete with the top wines. Black cherries, currants, spicy oak, and graphite all emerge from the glass, and this is full-bodied, with a layered, concentrated texture and ripe tannins. It's going to need 3-5 years of bottle age, but this brilliant 2022 is well worth seeking out.

Jeff Leve (The Wine Cellar Insider)
(91-93)/100 punten
Silky, soft, and fresh, the sweet, creamy, mineral-edged cherries and plums are long, lifted, supple and creamy. There is length, energy, complexity and a lot of pleasure here. You can enjoy this on release for its fruit and freshness, or age it for more complexity and mineral essences. Either way, this is going to be delicious! 

Decanter
92/100 punten
Richly concentrated nose full of perfumed bramble fruits and wild flower scents. Full-bodied, deep and supple on the palate but it walks the path between lean and plush, giving a balanced overall weight and density. Cool blue fruits are joined by crushed stones giving refreshing elements while the sticky liquorice, dark chocolate and clove spice edge the finish. Well constructed, a little tense still and just constricting some of the easy enjoyment at this stage but lots of promise for future drinking pleasure. Harvest 8-17 September. Ageing in French oak, 30% new. Rolland & Associés consultants.

Jane Anson (Inside Bordeaux)
92/100 punten
Coffee bean and smoke on the first nose, beautiful deep ruby colour, plenty of limestone fingerprinting coming through, giving a mouthwatering lemongrass edge that helps balance out the dominating spice, tobacco and grilled red fruits. 30% new oak, home estate of Dany Rolland. Plenty of estate signature, a definite crowd pleaser.

Antonio Galloni (Vinous)
(90-92)/100 punten
The 2022 Fontenil is a deep, massively structured Fronsac from Danny Rolland. In most vintages, Fontenil is more opulent, but in this tasting it is its structure and tannin that dominates. I imagine the fruit will emerge with élevage, but that will take some time.

Neal Martin (Vinous)
(95-97)/100 punten
The 2022 Fontenil has a “cool” bouquet with blackberry, undergrowth and light marine aromas. This seems to shrug off the warmth of the growing season. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, fine acidity and rounded in texture with a touch of Left Bank graphite arming the finish. Give this two or three years once in bottle. Classy.