Extremely ripe blackberries, without a hint of overripeness, and a gloss of fine vanilla oak, making this an extremely attractive, modern style St.-Emilion that glides over the palate gracefully, ending in a spectacular interplay of fruit and fine-grained tannins. A blend of 60 per cent merlot and 40 per cent cabernet franc. Try in 2022.

One of the most flamboyant wines in the vintage is unquestionably the 2016 Château Magrez Fombrauge, which is based on 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc brought up all in new oak. A beast of a wine with massive dark fruits, chocolate, leafy herbs, chocolate, and even a hint of crushed violets, it hits the palate with a thunderous display of richness and opulence, yet it still manages to stay light, beautifully balanced, and weightless. It’s a thrilling, blockbuster effort, and while I don’t know how it will evolve, I can’t imagine it not continuing to deliver loads of pleasure over the coming two decades or more. In today’s ridiculous obsession with so-called “elegance” and “purity”, I’m thrilled to see wines like this still being made.

(WE94-96 points) This rich wine comes from a parcel totally separate from Fombrauge, but under the same ownership. It is dense, with firm tannins and ripe black-plum and berry fruits. The whole ensemble will form a powerful wine as it matures.

Inky and opaque, the wine is all about chocolate-covered boysenberry, espresso, licorice, dark plum and darker cherry. Velvet drenched tannins, fat, salacious, opulent layers of perfectly ready, glossy fruits. This is the best wine produced here since 2000. You can feel the difference. It seems like everything has truly been dialed back. Read more at:https://www.thewinecellarinsider.com/search-wine-tasting-notes/?szSearch=2016+Magrez+Fombrauge+

Features a broad-shouldered and dark profile, with a note of baker's chocolate leading off, followed by dark currant and warmed fig accents. Ample tobacco, loam and cocoa details stride through the finish. Not shy on heft, but pulls it off. Best from 2022 through 2032. 500 cases made.–JM