2024 Fombrauge

Raspberry leaf and redcurrant fruits, with chalky tannins that have finesse and lift, carefully extracted with gentle campfire smoke, although the hand of 2024 comes through in the soft mid-palate. Harvest September 27 to October 11, 60ha of vines here, 26hl/h yield, 70% in oak barrels with half of those new oak, plus 30% across stainless steel, clay and cement vats. Tasted twice. Largest Grand Cru Classe of St Emilion at 58 hectares, owned by Bernard Magrez.

The 2024 Fombrauge is supple, forward and open-knit, all of which make it a fine choice for drinking upon release. Supple contours wrap around a core of plum, dark red cherry, spice, new leather, cedar and rose petal. This is a very different style than the past because of the reduction of new oak and gentler winemaking overall. There is a bit of firmness on the finish that needs time to resolve. Hopefully, élevage will take care of that. Aging is 70% in oak (50% new) and 30% in a combination of ceramic, cement and stainless steel. Tasted three times.

The 2024 Fombrauge, matured in 70% new oak, has a simple floral nose that does not possess the complexity of recent vintages. It comes across as a little staid. The palate is medium-bodied and balanced, with supple tannins. This is curiously a little Left Bank in terms of structure with a short but refreshingly sapid finish. It's not the best vintage, but if the aromatics improve, this could be a useful Saint-Émilion.