Fonbadet Pauillac 2020

94 points Jeb Dunnuck: "A Pauillac that has been over-delivering from some time now, the 2020 Château Fonbadet reveals a healthy ruby/purple hue as well as textbook aromatics of blackcurrants, cassis, graphite, tobacco, and a kiss of background oak. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, it's balanced, has the vintage's straight, focused style, and enough tannins to warrant 4-6 years of bottle age. It will keep for two decades. Drink: 2023-2043. (3/29/23)"

93 points Antonio Galloni (Vinous): "The 2020 Fonbadet is a soft, succulent Pauillac. Fruit and forward, but with bright acids, the 2020 has a lot to offer. I admit, I wanted a bit more complexity here, but the 2020 is nicely done and very easy to like. Red fruit, cedar and sweet pipe tobacco linger. Drink: 2025-2045. (Feb 2023)"

93 points James Suckling: "Cedar, black plums, blackberries, graphite and lemon leaves on the nose. It’s medium-bodied with firm, polished tannins. Serious and mineral yet velvety too. Refined and long. 76% cabernet sauvignon and 24% merlot. Drink from 2025. (12/15/22)"

93 points Georgina Hindle (Decanter): Succulent and grippy, with a cool blue fruit and chalky mineral edge, wet stones, slate and saltiness then coming through alongside blackcurrant and black cherries. This has soft muscles, gently flexing, giving a push to the fruit as well as supplying overall definition. Tannins are there but are fine and crisp. Power here, confidence as well; it's not too much with tension and focus. Pauillac-might but delicate. Drinking Window: 2025-2038. (2/26/23)"

93 points Jane Anson (Inside Bordeaux): "One of the few independent Pauillac estates that has enough production to have visibility in the international market, and they have been focusing in recent years on really smoothing out the flavour profile and adding depth through the mid palate. Good floral edge, jasmine and raspberry leaf, alongside cassis and bilberry fruit. Plenty of appellation character, this is good stuff. 12ha, 60 year old vines, Pascale Peyronie owner and winemaker, 40% new oak. (1/16/23)"

93 points Jeff Leve (The Wine Cellar Insider): "Tobacco leaves, barbecue, cedar, spearmint, currants and blackberries create a nose worth putting your nose in. On the palate, the wine is fresh, supple, polished and firm, with layers of crémé de cassis, coffee bean, black cherries, plums, spice and creamy tannins. This is even better in the bottle than it was from the barrel. It can for at least 20 years, if you let it. Though I will start drinking my bottles much earlier. Drink from 2025-2045. (Mar 2023)"

92 points Lisa Perrotti-Brown (The Wine Independent): "Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2020 Chateau Fonbadet leaps with expressive black and red currant notes, followed by wafts of cedar, underbrush, and wild sage. Medium-bodied, soft and juicy in the mouth, it delivers a spicy kick on the long finish. Drink: 2024-2040. (Mar 2023)”