They say the cool kids don’t drink Bordeaux anymore, opting instead for non-interventionist Beaujolais or natural wines from around the world.
Here at Mission, we say: FANTASTIC! Or as Neal Martin writes in his Vinous review about the following wine: “SUPERB!”
The fewer people drinking our beloved Bordeaux right now, the lesser the demand and the lower the prices. Look at the 2019 Château Fonreaud as a shining example, one of the esteemed properties of the Listrac whose wines continually achieve higher-than-expected standards of quality. We’ve just scooped up a chunk of cases from France for one of the best Bordeaux values we’ve sourced in over a year and we couldn’t be more excited to tell you about it.
Bordeaux has hit a string of great vintages for the last few years running, starting with 2019 and moving into 2022. With all the great wines being made year after year, and with prices inching higher and higher due to the great press (and some greed, of course), things had to adjust at some point—and now we’re seeing that great correction.
Over the past few months, a number of the top châteaux began slashing their prices, allowing us here at Mission to snatch up back vintages of top wines at fantastic prices, and then pass those savings along to you. We’re always keeping our eye out for Bordeaux discounts and this one really delivers.
Let’s look at the key points:
Château Fonreaud is located in the Listrac appellation along Bordeaux’s left bank, one of the most important regions up until the economic crisis of the 1930s. While the other Médoc appellations—St. Julien, Margaux, Pauillac, St. Estèphe—get all the fanfare, Listrac has the highest elevation on the left bank and gets the best drainage, which is important and often completely overlooked in today’s cult Cabernet climate.
Building on that last point, the highest elevation vineyards in Listrac are at Château Fonreaud. Planted in gravel over limestone soils, the reds tend to be split somewhat evenly between Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot with just a touch of Petit Verdot, but all three varietals have a beautiful balance of fruit and minerality due to their fantastic vineyards.
The wines at Fonreaud were somewhat inconsistent between 1988 and 2001, but really began to hit their stride in 2005. A decade after that, with new investment and vineyard management, the potential of these prime vineyards was unlocked and the reviews began pouring in.
The best part about the 2019 Fonreaud is that it already has a few years of bottle age and is ready to drink tonight. Decanting helps, and of course a finely cooked steak unlocks one of the most magical flavor combinations in the entire world (beef + Bordeaux), but you don’t need to be a meat eater to appreciate what’s going on in this bottle. Check out the glowing reviews for more information and grab your bottles tonight!
2019 Chateau Fonreaud Listrac-Medoc (Elsewhere $20+) $16.99
93 POINTS: DECANTER - Rustic on the nose, bramble fruits and a touch of herbaceousness. The palate is well textured, good grip from the tannins but the fruit is coming across a little dry at this point. Good initial juiciness - bright and vivid cherry - and great acidity which is lively. I like the chalky, almost mineral aspect to it once the tannins have subsided with an enjoyable cooling finish. Lots of excellent potential. Drink 2023-2035.
92 POINTS: VINOUS - The 2019 Fonréaud has a well-defined, focused bouquet offering blackberry, bilberry, cedar and light minerally aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with finely chiseled tannins, great depth and poise, and good density and definition on the cedary finish. What a great Listrac we have here! Superb. Drink 2025-2042.