Château FONROQUE 2019
Château Fonroque is located in Saint-Emilion , on the right bank of Bordeaux . It has belonged to the Moueix family since 1931 and has been run by Alain Moueix since 2001. He was one of the first Bordeaux winegrowers to practice organic farming, and is now also certified biodynamic . The Fonroque estate extends over 20 hectares of land, planted with nearly 18 hectares of vines, with an average age of around 35 years.
The Grand Cru Classé Château Fonroque is a blend of Merlot (around 80%) and Cabernet Franc (around 20%). The wine is aged in barrels of one wine or more, and in new barrels (30%).
The 2019 growing season started with a mild winter, which turned into a mild spring until April which brought a severe cold spell and threats of frost. In order to remedy this, many growers chose to light candles, which was generally successful. However, a second episode of frost then occurred in early May, which caused some damage to the vines. Conditions then warmed up and a hot, dry summer began to emerge, although the nights remained cool, preserving the essential acidity and aromas of the grapes. A hot July saw two major thunderstorms, which helped quell the heat while rehydrating the vines. September then ushered in a golden autumn, interrupted only towards the end of the month by heavy but relatively welcome stormy rains. The harvest took place from mid-September to early October with the Merlot harvested first.
Grapes: Merlot, Cabernet Franc