Château de Fonbel
Château de Fonbel
The Vauthier family has owned Château de Fonbel since 1971, treating the Saint-Émilion Grand Cru estate as an experimental vineyard for Château Ausone and Chapelle d’Ausone. Alain Vauthier and his daughter Pauline established the estate’s exacting modern direction, while the next generation has taken increasing responsibility across the wider family properties. Fonbel remains a distinct sixteen-hectare vineyard on Saint-Émilion’s southern plain, not a second label of Ausone.
Its mix of sandy-clay, gravel and sand supports Merlot alongside Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenère and Petit Verdot. The cellar relies on stainless-steel tanks and controlled temperatures for clarity; a measured share then sees barrel, adjusted to the vintage. Its particular strength is the freedom to test ideas without blurring the estate’s boundaries: Fonbel remains unmistakably its own Vauthier property.
Château de Fonbel 2015 Saint-Émilion Grand Cru
French Red
Dark berries and sour cherry lead the aroma, joined by herbal spice, tobacco and a floral note. Red currant follows across the palate, while chocolate adds a darker register and mineral detail runs alongside the fruit. Berries, herbs, tobacco and cocoa continue through the middle. The persistent finish brings red currant and mineral character back into clear focus.