85% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc

Decanter: 92, James Suckling: 91, Jeb Dunnuck: 90

Decanter: Ripe, chewy and mouthfilling, this is on the plusher side in terms of fruit flavour but with a core of velvet-like, quite grippy tannins that take hold and support the fruit. Lashings of dark chocolate, liquorice, vanilla and a cinnamon edge giving a lovely nuance of spice while the juicy fruit flavours linger on top. A dark, savoury style with plenty going on but delivered with refinement and clarity. Certainly one of the bolder styles.

Jeb Dunnuck: Red and blue fruits, sappy herbs, tobacco, underbrush, and violet notes, as well as some exotic nuances, all emerge from the 2021 Château Fombrauge, a medium-bodied, ripe, round, and lush, easygoing 2021 that makes the most of the vintage. It's impeccably made, has terrific purity, and should drink well for a decade with ease.