Château Fonplégade 2011 - Grand Cru Classé

In our bottle, the tannins are starting to mellow, and the style remains flamboyant, but the remarkable character of the terroir is evident!

Taken over by a passionate American couple, Denise and Stephen Adams, Fonplégade is a superbly situated estate on the Saint-Émilion coast, directly adjacent to Ausone. Under the direction of Éloi Jacob, the estate has adopted a clear philosophy: organic viticulture and uncompromising winemaking in a modern, welcoming winery. The 2013 vintage is expected to be the estate’s most harmonious expression since the Adams’ arrival.

At first sniff, elegance takes center stage, with a nose of spicy black berries enhanced by mild spices against a backdrop of vanilla, tobacco, and white pepper. The rich palate sings an ode to seduction. The silky tannins swirl and then settle delicately.

Fonplégade’s resurgence and return to quality under the leadership of the Adams family—who hired winemaker Michel Rolland—has been remarkable. The 2011 vintage continues to provide compelling evidence of their commitment to quality. Slightly more balanced in structure than usual, it possesses good purity with plenty of red and black fruit and minerality, in a compact, medium-bodied style. Nevertheless, it should age well for a decade or more.

 

Delicate and fairly straightforward, with a nice creamy texture, the 2011 Château Fonplégade is a good Saint-Émilion with moderate aging potential.

This lovely estate and its bourgeois château nestled on the hillside have been revitalized by an American millionaire couple, Denise and Steve Adams. After purchasing four châteaux, they have refocused their attention on Fonplégade and Château L’Enclos in Pomerol. Investments have continued unabated for the past five years at this estate, which is active in wine tourism. The château is being expanded with the addition of a second tower. The still-young vineyard is expected to receive organic certification in 2013. This open-minded approach is also evident in the cellar, where oak barrels now sit alongside concrete tanks. The wine—charming, full-bodied, and alluring—has gained freshness and depth in the last three vintages. The tasting room, open to the general public, is one of the most elegant and popular in Saint-Émilion.