2006 Ch. de Fonbel, Grand Cru, St. Emilion

For the uninitiated, Ch. de Fonbel (from the same stable as the legendary Ausone) represents one of the best value wines available on the market. A St. Emilion that is classic in style as opposed to the more modern, extracted format - Fonbel has an elegance and finesse running through it that so many St. Emilion wines lack today. The 2006 is cool, elegant and balanced. Cherries and white pepper spice burst into the nose and there is charming blackcurrant fruit on the palate, with surprising complexity. This is a bargain at the price.

A sleeper of the vintage from the perfectionist proprietor of Chateau Ausone, Alain Vauthier, this elegant St.-Emilion offers up scents of lead pencil shavings intermixed with blueberries, black currants, and boysenberries, and plenty of minerality. This 2006 should drink nicely for 10-12 years. Good value.
(Robert Parker - Wine Advocate - Feb-2009)