2016 Chateau Fonroque Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 750 ml

The 2016 Bordeaux vintage was one of the greatest of our lifetime. 

Vinous called it “absolutely remarkable” and rated it 98 points, while on release, Wine Advocate called it “unequivocally a great vintage.” In the hands of Alain Moueix, one of the pioneers of biodynamic farming in Bordeaux and a relative of the legendary Moueix clan that produces Petrus in Pomerol and Dominus in Napa, the results were spectacular.

Wine Advocate called Château Fonroque “a killer performance” and exclaimed “Bravo Alain Moueix!” out of barrel—and then they followed it up with a 95-point score once the wine was bottled. 

If anything, that doesn’t do this wine justice today, as it’s developing into a show-stopper with layered, dense aromas of black cherries, cacao nibs, hints of violets, and exotic spices. The beautifully energetic palate combines deep, bold fruit with energetic tannins, and a hint of dusty tobacco and chocolate.

Fonroque has been farmed biodynamically since 2008, and that care in the vineyard—plus the water-holding capacity of the clay-limestone soils in Saint-Émilion’s plateau—made the drought-affected 2016 vintage a relative breeze for Moueix. The estate is also one of the few among Saint-Émilion’s Grand Crus whose vineyard is one continuous parcel, which makes it easier to farm than many of its peers, whose vineyards are broken up into a myriad of smaller sites.

In the cellar, tradition reigns supreme here: Fermentation took place in temperature controlled concrete tanks, with moderate time on the skins to balance the extraction of fruit and silky tannins. Once fermentation finished, 80% of the wine aged in French oak barrels—half new, half once-filled, befitting a Grand Vin of its stature.