Ch de Fonbel
Chateau de Fonbel, located in the Saint Emilion appellation, lies below Ausone and Moulin St Georges and covers 16 hectares of vineyard. This consistently successful and solid Saint-Emilion has been owned by the Vauthier family, who also own Ausone, since 1971, meaning it has been fortunate enough to benefit from the Ausone's expert team for several years. Now run by Alain Vautier, Chateau de Fonbel is regarded by some as the finest winemaker in St Emilion, and represents quite simply some of the best-value St Emilion available today.
Unusually, it is planted with 20% cabernet sauvignon and 7% petit verdot, which gives the wine structure and keeping qualities whilst also adding to its complexities. The rest of the blend is 70% merlot and 3% carmenere, which spends 10 months in oak (30% of it new), producing a wine that will age for between five and 12 years.
