The 2015 Fonplegade Bordeaux Blend is a notable red wine from the Saint-Emilion sub-region of Bordeaux, France. This vintage is primarily composed of Merlot, with a small percentage (5%) of Cabernet Franc. With an alcohol content of 14.5%, this wine is presented in a traditional cork-sealed bottle.
Lisa Perrotti-Brown from Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate describes the wine as "deep garnet-purple in color" with a "very pretty nose of red and black currants, wild thyme, charcuterie, earth and floral notes plus a fair amount of cedary notions in the background." She praises its "arresting purity and depth," though she notes it finishes "just a little woody," suggesting it would benefit from 3-5 years of aging to allow the oak to integrate fully (92+ points).
Jeff Leve from TheWineCellarInsider.com awards it an impressive 95 points, highlighting its "elegant, sensuous, silky textures" and the "fresh, luscious fruits and salty tannins" that leave a significant impression. He notes the presence of "black licorice, truffle, smoke, ripe, sweet, dark red berries and cherry notes" as key characteristics.
Jeb Dunnuck, scoring it 94 points, points out the wine's "rich, opulent beauty" and its "notable purity and freshness." He describes the flavors as "cassis, toasted spices, dried earth, and lots of floral nuances," finding it "amazingly elegant and weightless" despite its full-bodied nature.
Wine Spectator also gives it 92 points, mentioning its "richly layered" profile with "boysenberry, fig and cassis flavors" and "fine chalky minerality." They recommend drinking it between 2020 and 2030.
James Suckling, who rates it 95 points, lauds it as "gorgeous and layered," with "blackberry, blueberry and mineral aromas and flavors" and "impressive tannins." He advises allowing it time to mature, suggesting it will be best enjoyed starting in 2022.
Decanter, also giving it 92 points, acknowledges the wine's "classy young" nature with "lots of oak" and a "sleek plum and black cherry" profile. They anticipate it will develop "truffley" characteristics with further aging.
Lastly, The Wine Independent scores it 94 points, noting its "medium to deep garnet" color and "bold black plum preserves, boysenberry jam, and mulberry scents." They describe the palate as delivering "concentrated black fruit preserves and rugged, chewy tannins," finishing "long and savory."
Overall, the 2015 Fonplegade is highly regarded across various reviewers, suggesting it is a well-crafted wine with potential for further development with aging.