Chateau Fonroque Saint-Emilion Grand Cru Classe 2017
93 Points - Wine Enthusiast. Château Fonroque produced an excellent wine in 2017. The 2017 vintage was unusual and not without its challenges. A hard (-6°C) frost on the 28th of April reduced the potential crop significantly as did a lack of rain in the spring. Happily a dry summer and sunny autumn allowed Fonroque to bring in a relatively small, but healthy harvest. The grand vin is a blend of 93% Merlot and 7% Cabernet Franc, a mix that played to the vintage’s strengths. Typically powerful and weighty, the Château Fonroque 2017 is drinking splendidly now.
Vivino Rating: 4.3 (Oct 2025)
Wine Press Ratings
93 Points - Wine Enthusiast (2017 Vintage)
"92–94. Barrel Sample. This biodynamic estate has produced a rich, dense and generous wine, with solid yet fine tannins and powerful, pure black-fruit flavors. Drink from 2024."
Taste
Youthful red-purple, the bouquet is inviting, full, and harmonious. Fresh and dried black berries, cherries, violets and woodsmoke give a heady first impression. The palate is equally impressive. Blackberries and black cherries are underpinned by flavours of dried blackcurrants, mocha, olives, and mint. Always a big wine, the 2017 Fonroque is powerful but well-balanced and has greater structure to allow it to develop over the coming years.
About the Producer
Château Fonroque is a Saint Emilion Grand Cru Classé. This important estate is composed of a beautiful 22-hectare vineyard that straddles the limestone plateau of Saint-Emilion and sandy clay slopes. The vineyards are planted with old vine Merlot (70%) and Cabernet Franc (30%) both of which thrive on the poor, well-drained soils. Since 2006 Fonroque’s vineyard has been certified organic and since 2008 they have been certified as biodynamic. The move to biodynamic production aligns with the owners’ commitment to expressing the vineyards’ unique character and working with nature.
93 Points - Wine Enthusiast. Château Fonroque produced an excellent wine in 2017. The 2017 vintage was unusual and not without its challenges. A hard (-6°C) frost on the 28th of April reduced the potential crop significantly as did a lack of rain in the spring. Happily a dry summer and sunny autumn allowed Fonroque to bring in a relatively small, but healthy harvest. The grand vin is a blend of 93% Merlot and 7% Cabernet Franc, a mix that played to the vintage’s strengths. Typically powerful and weighty, the Château Fonroque 2017 is drinking splendidly now.
Vivino Rating: 4.3 (Oct 2025)
Wine Press Ratings
93 Points - Wine Enthusiast (2017 Vintage)
"92–94. Barrel Sample. This biodynamic estate has produced a rich, dense and generous wine, with solid yet fine tannins and powerful, pure black-fruit flavors. Drink from 2024."
Taste
Youthful red-purple, the bouquet is inviting, full, and harmonious. Fresh and dried black berries, cherries, violets and woodsmoke give a heady first impression. The palate is equally impressive. Blackberries and black cherries are underpinned by flavours of dried blackcurrants, mocha, olives, and mint. Always a big wine, the 2017 Fonroque is powerful but well-balanced and has greater structure to allow it to develop over the coming years.
About the Producer
Château Fonroque is a Saint Emilion Grand Cru Classé. This important estate is composed of a beautiful 22-hectare vineyard that straddles the limestone plateau of Saint-Emilion and sandy clay slopes. The vineyards are planted with old vine Merlot (70%) and Cabernet Franc (30%) both of which thrive on the poor, well-drained soils. Since 2006 Fonroque’s vineyard has been certified organic and since 2008 they have been certified as biodynamic. The move to biodynamic production aligns with the owners’ commitment to expressing the vineyards’ unique character and working with nature.
Original: $55.95
-70%$55.95
$16.78Description
93 Points - Wine Enthusiast. Château Fonroque produced an excellent wine in 2017. The 2017 vintage was unusual and not without its challenges. A hard (-6°C) frost on the 28th of April reduced the potential crop significantly as did a lack of rain in the spring. Happily a dry summer and sunny autumn allowed Fonroque to bring in a relatively small, but healthy harvest. The grand vin is a blend of 93% Merlot and 7% Cabernet Franc, a mix that played to the vintage’s strengths. Typically powerful and weighty, the Château Fonroque 2017 is drinking splendidly now.
Vivino Rating: 4.3 (Oct 2025)
Wine Press Ratings
93 Points - Wine Enthusiast (2017 Vintage)
"92–94. Barrel Sample. This biodynamic estate has produced a rich, dense and generous wine, with solid yet fine tannins and powerful, pure black-fruit flavors. Drink from 2024."
Taste
Youthful red-purple, the bouquet is inviting, full, and harmonious. Fresh and dried black berries, cherries, violets and woodsmoke give a heady first impression. The palate is equally impressive. Blackberries and black cherries are underpinned by flavours of dried blackcurrants, mocha, olives, and mint. Always a big wine, the 2017 Fonroque is powerful but well-balanced and has greater structure to allow it to develop over the coming years.
About the Producer
Château Fonroque is a Saint Emilion Grand Cru Classé. This important estate is composed of a beautiful 22-hectare vineyard that straddles the limestone plateau of Saint-Emilion and sandy clay slopes. The vineyards are planted with old vine Merlot (70%) and Cabernet Franc (30%) both of which thrive on the poor, well-drained soils. Since 2006 Fonroque’s vineyard has been certified organic and since 2008 they have been certified as biodynamic. The move to biodynamic production aligns with the owners’ commitment to expressing the vineyards’ unique character and working with nature.
