Wijnen

Schitterende kleurschakkeringen tooien het glas. De zuivere neus overtuigt met intensiteit en precisie. De stijl is duidelijk: de Amerikaanse eigenaar brengt dit jaar een Grand Cru Classé die het best omschreven kan worden als “Very French, very Bordeaux, very Haute Couture”. In de mond wordt zowaar nog een hogere versnelling ingeschakeld. Dit is werkelijk overheerlijk intens en precies. De zuiverheid is bewonderenswaardig. Houden mensen van zuivere, frisse en intense wijnen? Ik denk het wel. De toetsen van heerlijke scherven zwarte chocolade in de finale maken wel deel uit van die charme, maar het is zo bordelees. Het terroir van Fonplégade is groots, en de prijs blijft redelijk. Zeg het zeker niet voort…
Fonplégade is bio gecertifiëerd. Stéphane Derenoncourt consulteert voor het eerst in 2015 en je proeft het. Bravissimo!

IN DE PERS

90-92? Neal Martin – The Wine Advocate Issue #224 – erobertparker.com (April 2016)
The 2015 Fonplegade has a tightly wound bouquet, broodier than its peers, a subtle marine influence filtering through the red and black fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with chewy tannin, perhaps falling a little short of the sophistication and complexity that I was anticipating coming through on the nose. Perhaps this is a wine not showing on the day, because this estate can produce excellent Saint Émilion wine, hence the question mark against my score for now. Drink: 2019-2032.

95 James Suckling – jamessuckling.com (Februari 2018)

95-96 James Suckling – jamessuckling.com (Maart 2016)
Very powerful and chewy with super concentration of tannins and richness. Full and superbly structure. Made from certified organically grown grapes. Best ever from here.

94 Antonio Galloni - vinous.com (Februari 2018)
Even better from bottle than it was from barrel, the 2015 Fonplégade is absolutely gorgeous. Rich and sumptuous, but superbly refined, the 2015 exudes class. The dark cherry, plum, espresso, rose petal and blood orange notes open up effortlessly. Time in the glass brings out the wine's underlying brightness, tension and energy. Everything about the 2015 speaks to balance. This is a superb showing from proprietors Stephen and Denise Adams and their team, which includes both Stéphane Derenoncourt and Michel Rolland. Drink 2023-2035.

91-94 Antonio Galloni – Vinous - vinous.com (April 2016)
One of the more intriguing wines of the year, the 2015 Fonplégade is powerful and exuberant, yet retains a mid-weight sense of structure. Black cherry, plum, spice, menthol and licorice are some of the many notes that flesh out in the glass. Dark, sumptuous and impeccable in its balance, the 2015 shows the more modern side of Saint-Émilion. This is a highly promising showing from Fonplégade in the first vintage made by consulting oenologists Stéphane Derenoncourt and Romain Bocchio.

92+ Lisa Perrotti-Brown - The Wine Advocate - robertparker.com (Februari 2018)
Made almost exclusively from Merlot with just a 5% splash of Cabernet Franc, the 2015 Fonplegade is deep garnet-purple in color with a very pretty nose of red and black currants, wild thyme, charcuterie, earth and floral notes plus a fair amount of cedary notions in the background. Medium to full-bodied, it's wonderfully elegant, fine and fresh in the mouth with arresting purity and depth, finishing just a little woody. Give it 3-5 years for the oak to marry and the fruit to come to the forefront, and drink it over the next 10 to 15+ years. Drink 2020-2037.

16/20 Jancis Robinson – jancisrobinson.com (April 2016)
A Stéphane Derenoncourt wine. Very dark crimson. Silky ripe freshness. Very seductive and well balanced. Racy and lifted. A bit forward, but nothing exaggerated here. Drink: 2022-2032.

90-93 James Molesworth - Wine Spectator – winespectator.com (Maart 2016)
Focused and very pretty, with a pure, unadorned beam of raspberry and plum coulis flavors that show excellent length, while light anise and apple wood hints emerge slowly on the finish.

18/20 Bettane & Desseauve (April 2016)

15/20 Revue des Vins de France (April 2016)

15/20 Jacques Dupont - Le Point (April 2016)

89 Tim Atkin – timatkin.com (April 2016)

Fonplégade