Fombrauge - Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2022

Alexandre Ma

92

byAlexandre Mathe3/10/2025

Château Fombrauge’s 2022 vintage takes their classic, “bold and intense” character to the next level. The matured fruit and toasted aromas blend perfectly, especially the prominent scents of blueberry jam and brandied cherries that give the wine a powerful energy. The handling of the tannins is praiseworthy, as the fine texture prevents the rich flavor from feeling heavy. This is a wine that can be enjoyed even in its youth, and will remain stable after aging, like a skilled warrior who has trained for years and developed a peaceful character.

Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux

93

byJane Ansonthe3/7/2025

Grilled sandalwood, black chocolate, cocoa bean and espresso, damson, clear lift also, mandarin peel and lemongrass, a good quality Fombrauge, 43hl/h yield, Michel Rolland and Julien Viaud consultants, harvest september 12 to 27, largest Grand Cru Classe of St Emilion at 58 hectares.

The Wine Cellar Insider

93

byJeff Levethe3/4/2025

Fombrauge, Château

Jeb DUNNUCK

94

byJeb Dunnuckthe2/28/2025

Smoky black cherries, savory herbs, crushed stone, and graphite nuances all emerge from the 2022 Château Fombrauge, a wonderfully textured, full-bodied Saint-Emilion that has ripe, integrated tannins and a great finish.

Yvesbeck.wine

94

byYves Beckthe2/25/2025

71% Merlot, 29% Cabernet Franc Bonne symbiose entre élevage, maturité et fraîcheur dans le bouquet de Fombrauge 2022. Ainsi, il révèle des nuances de réglisse et de cassis sur un fond d'épices douces. En bouche, le vin se distingue par son harmonie, par son caractère linéaire. Les tannins offrent une assise fiable et élégante. Le palais demande à quelque peu gagner en expression aromatique en finale, mais les perspectives affichées aujourd'hui sont réjouissantes. 2026-2040 94/100

Vinous

92

byNeal Martinthe2/12/2025

The 2022 Fombrauge has an intense bouquet with blackberry, raspberry and floral scents. Very aromatic anis and orange pith touches develop in the glass with time. The palate is well balanced with grippy tannins, yet there is satisfying freshness and salinity. The finish is nicely detailed and persistent. Afford this Saint-Émilion a couple of years in bottle.

Jamessuckling.com

93

byJames Sucklingthe2/3/2025

Aromas of white pepper, iron, fresh blackberries and currants. Juicy and firm, with a medium to full body and firm, dusty tannins that tightened at the end. Very good length. Drink from 2026.

Vinous

93

byAntonio Gallonithe1/28/2025

The 2022 Fombrauge is an effusive, open-knit offering from Bernard Magrez. Crushed flowers, spice, mint, leather and mocha all grace this fruity, supple Saint-Émilion. The finish is nicely lifted, which helps balance some of the wine's more overt leanings.

Decanter.com

93

byGeorgina Hindlethe5/25/2023

Lively and nice energy here, clean and sculpted, fresh and forward, this manages a nice combination of upfront, bright and quite vibrant fruit with clean, crisp and cool tannins that really work together. Still quite straight and lean, not exuberant but I like the style, it's focussed and nicely weighted on the palate giving lots of flavour intensity but keeping lifted and appealing. A nice buy. Tannic but so pure and precise with bite. Easy. Harvest 12-29 September. Yield of 43hl/ha.

Alexandre Ma

92-93

byAlexandre Mathe5/17/2023

Château Fombrauge's 2022 vintage takes their classic, "bold and intense" character to the next level. The matured fruit and toasted aromas blend perfectly, especially the prominent scents of blueberry jam and brandied cherries that give the wine a powerful energy. The handling of the tannins is praiseworthy, as the fine texture prevents the rich flavor from feeling heavy. This is a wine that can be enjoyed even in its youth, and will remain stable after aging, like a skilled warrior who has trained for years and developed a peaceful character.

Vinous

91-93

byNeal Martinthe5/17/2023

The 2022 Fombrauge, which contains a healthy contribution of Cabernet Franc, has a delightful bouquet with pure blackberry and cassis scents. It's pretty floral with wilted iris flower aromas emerging with time. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins and good concentration. It retains satisfying acidity on the finish, with a splash of soy on the aftertaste. Worth seeking out.

Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux

93

byJane Ansonthe5/16/2023

Luscious damson, grilled vanilla bean, blueberry and blackberry puree character to the wine, it's creamy and ripe but has balance and length. Enjoyable. Bernard Magrez estate.

The Wine Independent

89-91

byLisa Perrotti-Brownthe5/15/2023

The 2022 Fombrauge, 91% Merlot and 9% Cabernet Franc, is deep garnet-purple in color. It bursts with bold notes of juicy blueberries, blackberry pie, and pencil shavings, followed by hints of dusty soil and garrigue. The medium to full-bodied palate is rich and juicy, with plenty of spicy sparks and a plush texture, finishing long and spicy.

Yvesbeck.wine

92-94

byYves Beckthe5/10/2023

Belle symbiose entre l'élevage, les nuances calcaires, les notes florales et le caractère généreux du merlot. Le vin est de bonne densité et tenu par des tannins compacts, suaves, précis qui assurent les arrières et qui confèrent une légère sucrosité. Un vin harmonieux, invitant que l'on pourra déjà apprécier jeune, mais qui offre également du potentiel.

Bettane & Desseauve

92-93

by Bettane & Desseauvethe5/10/2023

Tannicité enveloppante avec un réel potentiel, c’est un vin à la hauteur du millésime tout en gardant son style propre.

Jeb DUNNUCK

94-96

byJeb Dunnuckthe5/10/2023

Beautiful stuff, the 2022 Château Fombrauge is locked and loaded with red and black fruits as well as notes of melted chocolate, leafy tobacco, flowers, and spice. A hedonistic bomb offering full-bodied richness and a round, mouth-filling texture, with sweet tannins and remarkable freshness, it's a no-brainer Saint-Emilion that will evolve for two decades. 94-96+

Vinous

93-95

byAntonio Gallonithe5/9/2023

The 2022 Fombrauge is superb. Rich, heady and super-expressive, the 2022 offers up succulent black cherry, plum, violet mocha and licorice. As always, Fombrauge is on the richer side, but this is one of the best vintages I can remember tasting. Gorgeous. Drinking window : 2028-2042

The Wine Cellar Insider

92-94

byJeff Levethe5/5/2023

Flowers, leafy herbs, chocolate covered plums, espresso, licorice and cherries create the perfume. Medium/full-bodied, round, and polished, the wine is already showing its layers of black cherries, and chocolate coated blackberries on the mid-palate and in the long, fruit-filled, polished finish. With its lush style, this will be approachable on release. The wine blends 71% Merlot and 29% Cabernet Franc. Drink from 2023-2042.

Jancis Robinson

16

byJancis Robinsonthe5/5/2023

Powerful in every way with the intensity of sweet fruit battling the intensity of the tannins but it should get there with any luck. Eventually. 16+

Wine Advocate

88-90

byYohan Castaingthe4/28/2023

The 2022 Fombrauge displays a deep and complex yet oaky bouquet with aromas of cassis, spices, graphite and fresh tobacco. Firm and dense, concentrated and fleshy, the palate is medium to full-bodied, chunky and heavily extracted. This demonstrative, modern-styled wine is a blend of 71% Merlot and 29% Cabernet Franc.

Jamessuckling.com

93-94

byJames Sucklingthe4/19/2023

Blackberry, blueberry, dark chocolate with some spice. Medium to full body. Juicy finish. Very fine and fresh. Savory. Could move up a notch. From organically grown grapes. 71% merlot and 29% cabernet franc.