Vinous - Stephen Tanzer (89)

(a blend of 63% merlot, 20% cabernet sauvignon,10% petit verdot and 7% carmenère): Fully saturated inky purple. Coffee, cocoa and cassis on the nose, along with a musky note that I attribute to the carmenère. Then ample and sweet in the mouth, with syrupy blackberry and vanilla flavors that linger on the tangy, rather light finish.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (91)

Graphite, dark blue/black fruit, smoke and spices meld together in the 2012 de Fonbel. Beams of supporting minerality and tannin give the 2012 much of its energy and sense of direction. This is a very pretty, impeccably balanced wine from the Vauthier family. The blend is 60% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Petit Verdot and 5% Carmenère. Drink this attractive Saint-Emilion over the next decade or so.

Wine Advocate (91)

Composed of 70% Merlot, 16% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Petit Verdot and 7% Carménère, the medium to deep garnet-purple colored 2016 Fonbel has a classic nose of warm red plums, cigar box and black plums with nuances of redcurrants, Sichuan pepper and tar. Medium to full-bodied, the palate delivers a lot of mid-palate fruit with lovely plush tannins and a long refreshing finish.

Jeb Dunnuck (92-94)

A blend of 70% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 10% Carménère, the 2018 Château De Fonbel is a juicy, medium to full-bodied, elegant Saint-Émilion that has seriously good notes of black cherries, black raspberries, violets, and spice. It shows the ripe, sexy style of the vintage, but its purity of fruit and polished tannins set it apart. This is a beautiful wine and my money is on it being a best to date.

Vinous - Neal Martin (90)

The 2019 Château de Fonbel has an attractive bouquet of raspberry, briary and light minty scents with just a touch of freshly rolled tobacco. The palate is medium-bodied, quite cohesive and fleshy, delivering tobacco-tinged red fruit, moderate weight and a gentle grip toward the finish, which is lent a little sharpness by the 10% Cabernet Sauvignon.

Vinous - Neal Martin (90)

The 2019 Château de Fonbel has an attractive bouquet of raspberry, briary and light minty scents with just a touch of freshly rolled tobacco. The palate is medium-bodied, quite cohesive and fleshy, delivering tobacco-tinged red fruit, moderate weight and a gentle grip toward the finish, which is lent a little sharpness by the 10% Cabernet Sauvignon.

Jancis Robinson (16)

65% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Cabernet Franc, 7% Carmenère. 26 hl/ha (half the normal production). Cask sample. Juicy and fruit-driven with considerable freshness. Red- and dark-fruit notes. Touch more concentration due to yield. Light but finely etched tannins. Simple but pleasing. (JL) 14%

Jancis Robinson (16)

65% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Cabernet Franc, 7% Carmenère. 26 hl/ha (half the normal production). Cask sample. Juicy and fruit-driven with considerable freshness. Red- and dark-fruit notes. Touch more concentration due to yield. Light but finely etched tannins. Simple but pleasing. (JL) 14%

Jeb Dunnuck (94)

The 2022 Château De Fonbel is more rounded and layered, with beautiful cassis and black cherry fruits intermixed with chocolaty herbs, graphite, and crushed stone. This ripe, textured, medium to full-bodied 2022 has beautiful tannins and outstanding length. I like it today, and it should have 10-12 years, if not slightly longer, of prime drinking.

Jeb Dunnuck (94)

The 2022 Château De Fonbel is more rounded and layered, with beautiful cassis and black cherry fruits intermixed with chocolaty herbs, graphite, and crushed stone. This ripe, textured, medium to full-bodied 2022 has beautiful tannins and outstanding length. I like it today, and it should have 10-12 years, if not slightly longer, of prime drinking.

James Suckling (92-93)

Very pretty with pure cassis and sliced orange character. Medium body, fine tannins and a polished finish. Balanced and fresh. Some stone and salty undertones. 64% merlot, 28% cabernet sauvignon and 8% carmenere.

The Chateau de Fosse-Seche Panthalassa VdF 2020 is an exemplar of the exceptional French viticulture. Tucked away in the Loire Valley region, the eco-conscious Chateau de Fosse-Seche is renowned for its time-honoured biodynamic practices. This Panthalassa vintage was masterfully crafted by outclassing various grape varieties including the rare Côt, Gamay, and Grolleau grapes grown in the estate's vineyards.

Revealing deep, saturated hues of garnet, this wine mirrors the richness of its terroir, with tasting notes redolent of ripe black fruits subtly underscored by earthy undertones. Expect an effusion of sharp, edgy tannins that soften exquisitely into a smooth and lengthy finish.

The Chateau de Fosse-Seche Panthalassa VdF 2020 is an audacious expression of complexity and elegance in a bottle. This wine is a testament to the harmonious marriage of traditional winemaking techniques with modern, sustainable viticulture.

Vinous - Neal Martin (92)

The 2016 de France has a classically styled bouquet of tertiary black fruit, woodland scents and a touch of tree bark, all well defined and quite complex. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannin, a fine line of acidity and tarry black fruit. Pencil shavings line the finish. This de France should drink well over the next two decades.

Vinous - Neal Martin (92)

The 2016 de France has a classically styled bouquet of tertiary black fruit, woodland scents and a touch of tree bark, all well defined and quite complex. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannin, a fine line of acidity and tarry black fruit. Pencil shavings line the finish. This de France should drink well over the next two decades.

Vinous - Neal Martin (91)

The 2018 Château de France has an attractive bouquet of blackberry, wild hedgerow, crushed rock and light sea spray aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with a crisp blackberry and seaweed-tinged entry, good acidity and a tightly knit and quite structured finish. It will require 3–4 years in bottle, but I think this is a fine Pessac-Léognan for the vintage.

Vinous - Neal Martin (91)

The 2018 Château de France has an attractive bouquet of blackberry, wild hedgerow, crushed rock and light sea spray aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with a crisp blackberry and seaweed-tinged entry, good acidity and a tightly knit and quite structured finish. It will require 3–4 years in bottle, but I think this is a fine Pessac-Léognan for the vintage.

Vinous - Neal Martin (91)

The 2018 Château de France has an attractive bouquet of blackberry, wild hedgerow, crushed rock and light sea spray aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with a crisp blackberry and seaweed-tinged entry, good acidity and a tightly knit and quite structured finish. It will require 3–4 years in bottle, but I think this is a fine Pessac-Léognan for the vintage.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (92)

The 2019 de France is quite the powerhouse. A blast of inky dark fruit, gravel, spice, menthol, licorice and smoke races across the palate. This deep, fleshy Pessac-Léognan has a ton to offer. The rich, substantial finish is a thing of beauty.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (92)

The 2019 de France is quite the powerhouse. A blast of inky dark fruit, gravel, spice, menthol, licorice and smoke races across the palate. This deep, fleshy Pessac-Léognan has a ton to offer. The rich, substantial finish is a thing of beauty.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (92)

The 2019 de France is quite the powerhouse. A blast of inky dark fruit, gravel, spice, menthol, licorice and smoke races across the palate. This deep, fleshy Pessac-Léognan has a ton to offer. The rich, substantial finish is a thing of beauty.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (92)

The 2019 de France is quite the powerhouse. A blast of inky dark fruit, gravel, spice, menthol, licorice and smoke races across the palate. This deep, fleshy Pessac-Léognan has a ton to offer. The rich, substantial finish is a thing of beauty.

Vinous - Neal Martin (92)

The 2020 Château de France has an absolutely delightful nose: blackberry and bilberry fruit, black olives and subtle spicy scents. Very focused and very composed. The palate is very well balanced with finely-sculpted tannins, well-judged acidity, fine weight and a precise finish that deserves a light round of applause. Maybe the finest wine that I have tasted from the estate.

Vinous - Neal Martin (92)

The 2020 Château de France has an absolutely delightful nose: blackberry and bilberry fruit, black olives and subtle spicy scents. Very focused and very composed. The palate is very well balanced with finely-sculpted tannins, well-judged acidity, fine weight and a precise finish that deserves a light round of applause. Maybe the finest wine that I have tasted from the estate.

Vinous - Neal Martin (90-92)

The 2021 Château de France has an understated bouquet of blackberry, raspberry and wild heather scents. The palate is medium-bodied with firm tannins, but this is nicely balanced with more freshness on the finish that some of its peers. Worth seeking out.