92

Antonio Galloni

Vinous

The 2022 Fonroque is plush, sensual and quite deep. Silky tannins enshroud a core of dark cherry/plum fruit, new leather, spice, menthol and espresso. This juicy, open-knit Saint-Émilion from Alan Mouiex is a winner. 01/2025

92

Neal Martin

Vinous

The 2022 Fonroque has a well-defined bouquet with black cherry, violet and iris flower scents. It's precise with neatly integrated oak. The palate is well balanced with a succulent opening featuring red cherry, wild strawberry, marmalade and allspice. This is quite fleshy toward the finish but with adequate backbone. Maybe I underestimated this en primeur and my score reflects that. 01/2025

93+

William Kelley

Robert Parker/Wine Advocate

The 2022 Fonroque is a dense, structured wine that will require some patience (largely due to the musculature imparted by old, virused vines growing on the limestone plateau), but it shows terrific potential. Offering up notes of mulberries, licorice and violets, it's medium to full-bodied, deep and layered, with a concentrated core of fruit underpinned by a muscular chassis of tannin. It's built for the cellar. 03/2025

94+

Jeb Dunnuck

Jeb Dunnuck

Juicy black cherries, blackberries, roasted herbs, graphite, and loamy earth notes all emerge from the 2022 Château Fonroque, a rich, medium to full-bodied, concentrated 2022 from this team. A blend of 86% Merlot and 14% Cabernet Franc, it has the plush, sexy style of the vintage and will keep for 15 years or more in cold cellars. It might be the finest wine I've tasted from this château. 02/2025

94

Jean-Marc Quarin

Jean-Marc Quarin

Couleur sombre, intense et pourpre. Nez très aromatique, pur, subtil, au fruité frais. Délicat en entrée de bouche, délicat au milieu, avec du goût et un toucher raffiné, le vin se développe aromatique, en rebondissant, séveux, vers une longue finale à la tannicité noble. C'est très bon. Le meilleur jamais fait avec le 2020. 02/2025

94

James Suckling

James Suckling

A deep and mineral nose with subtle botanicals and white-pepper accents over the ripe but vibrant berry fruit. Juicy and medium- to full-bodied on the palate, this has chalky tannins and a long and crunchy finish. Impressive freshness and texture from this hot and dry vintage. A big step up from the past. From organically grown grapes. Drink from 2026. 01/2025