Château de Fonbel 2023
St-Emilion Grand Cru
Bordeaux, France
Regular price£79.00
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Arriving: Autumn 2026
Shipping duty paid to Mainland UK is charged at a flat rate of £9.99 per consignment and POA for Northern Ireland or Islands.
Shipping under bond is dependant on location, but starts at £15 per consignment.
| Style: Red | Packaging: OWC |
| ABV: % | Closure: Cork |
| Organic: | Drink from: 2028 |
| Biodynamic: | Drink to: 2040 |
| Grapes: | |
Critic scores
91 RP, 90 NM, 91 AG, 93 JS, 92 JA
Critic reviews
"A floral bouquet of violet, cassis, lilac and spices introduces the 2023 Fonbel, a medium- to full-bodied wine that is enveloping and sapid, built around a layered, juicy core of fruit framed by velvety tannins and concluding with a long, fresh and gourmand finish. The blend comprises 64% Merlot, 28% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8% Carménère."
Yohan Castaing, April 2026, RobertParker.com
"The 2023 Château de Fonbel is quite a steely bouquet, a bit reserved upon first pour, opening gradually in the glass with blackberry, iodine and light marine scents. The palate is medium-bodied with impressive concentration in context of the vintage, a sweet core of black plum and hoisin that segues into a dense, rounded finish with a healthy sprinkling of black pepper. Give this two or three years in bottle."
Neal Martin, February 2026, Vinous.com
"The 2023 de Fonbel is a very pretty, delicate Saint-Émilion. Rose petal, mint, blood orange, dried herbs, cedar and pipe tobacco give the 2023 a good bit of complexity to play off its mid-weight structure. All this needs is a bit more persistence on the finish. Then again, most of this is young-vine Merlot planted on lower slopes with sandy/gravelly soils."
Antonio Galloni, March 2026, Vinous.com
"Bright blueberry and chalk aromas with a hint of white pepper follow through to a full body that’s tight and compact, with cool fruit and a long, crunchy, tannic finish. There’s limestone character in both flavor and structure. A blend of 64% merlot, 28% cabernet sauvignon and 8% carmenere. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold."
James Suckling, January 2026, JamesSuckling.com
"This is a lovely wine in the vintage, a little reticent at first, but the austerity of En Primeur has softened while retaining the vivid expression of blue and red fruit, with a mouthwatering finish. One to look out for. Owned by the Vauthier family of Château Ausone."
Jane Anson, March 2026, JaneAnson.com
Yohan Castaing, April 2026, RobertParker.com
"The 2023 Château de Fonbel is quite a steely bouquet, a bit reserved upon first pour, opening gradually in the glass with blackberry, iodine and light marine scents. The palate is medium-bodied with impressive concentration in context of the vintage, a sweet core of black plum and hoisin that segues into a dense, rounded finish with a healthy sprinkling of black pepper. Give this two or three years in bottle."
Neal Martin, February 2026, Vinous.com
"The 2023 de Fonbel is a very pretty, delicate Saint-Émilion. Rose petal, mint, blood orange, dried herbs, cedar and pipe tobacco give the 2023 a good bit of complexity to play off its mid-weight structure. All this needs is a bit more persistence on the finish. Then again, most of this is young-vine Merlot planted on lower slopes with sandy/gravelly soils."
Antonio Galloni, March 2026, Vinous.com
"Bright blueberry and chalk aromas with a hint of white pepper follow through to a full body that’s tight and compact, with cool fruit and a long, crunchy, tannic finish. There’s limestone character in both flavor and structure. A blend of 64% merlot, 28% cabernet sauvignon and 8% carmenere. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold."
James Suckling, January 2026, JamesSuckling.com
"This is a lovely wine in the vintage, a little reticent at first, but the austerity of En Primeur has softened while retaining the vivid expression of blue and red fruit, with a mouthwatering finish. One to look out for. Owned by the Vauthier family of Château Ausone."
Jane Anson, March 2026, JaneAnson.com