1988 Château Fombrauge

Community Tasting Notes (2) Avg Score: 91 points

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  3/25/2018 - Optimus Wine Likes this wine: 91 Points

  The color depth was deep with a brick and brown color hue. The color almost reminds me of a Tempranillo. The clarity was slightly hazy for its age. Aroma intensity was moderate and definitely showed it’s age.
  
  Aromas included tart cherry, a little antiseptic, a musty wood, dusty and dark chocolate.
  
  The wine was dry and not very sweet. Body was medium and acidity was tart. Tannins were low and soft. The wine has a good balance between the acidity and tannins. Flavor intensity was moderate and the finish was long.
  
  Flavors included red fruit, dirt and a chalkiness.
  
  The wine is still full of life. A great example of a classic Bordeaux. The wine still has potential to age longer in the cellar. The wine has a presents of fruit although it’s not predominant. I would love to see where this wine is in 5 years but it can be drunk now.

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  4/17/2006 - timewithwine wrote:

  Saturday, June 17, 2000 This St. Emilion grand cru, ’though not an outstanding wine, was certainly a standout compared to what we have been drinking on a routine basis around here. (Sometimes you just have to have a real red!) It colored the glass with a brickish-sienna red (DDB says, no, it’s garnet) and gave a full nose of soft berry, leather, bay and currant. What a feast for a famished palate. It eased on the mouth - no slap in the face of a Cal. red, but the elegant, classic blend of soft berry, blueberry, currant and tobo. It’s medium to light body was somewhat a disappointment, as was a slight ’hotness’ on the finish. Nevertheless, an excellent wine. Enjoyed with grilled strip steaks finished with a blue cheese, walnut and rosemary ’butter’ sweet potato pudding (I know this didn’t help the wine, but I had to have some) and a salad.
  Saturday, November 18, 2000 A deep rich clear garnet color that deepens as the wine breathes. Scents of berry and cedar immediately after the wine is decanted. The first taste, 30 minutes after opening, renders a somewhat thin wine with berry, cedar, smoke and a little vanilla. It is dusty dry. The wine still seems disjointed. An hour after opening and decanting, the wine is coming together with red berries, cedar, oak/vanilla and tobo box smells and tastes. The fact that this St. Emilion is a grand cru is hidden by the balance of the wine - the extra alcohol is not apparent and none of the hotness like the last time tasted. By the time dinner is finished this wine is just hitting its stride. It has become a well integrated wine with raspberry, currant, cedar, tobo box and leather. The fruit carries all the way to the silky finish. My mistake not to let this wine sit for the entire 2 hours before drinking it. 60% Merlot and 40% Cab. Franc and Cab. Sauv from a good but not outstanding year. A solid wine with a good QPR of $14.00. Should drink will for the next 3-5 years. With mushroom port sauce over pan seared strip steaks accompanied with Gorgonzola stuffed mushrooms. 11/18/00.
  Saturday, April 13, 2002 gift to Tom and April Kernan while April is on chemo for Lymphoma.
  Friday, March 14, 2003 Ruby color in the center with orange brick at the rim. Surprisingly, it served up chocolate covered cherries and vanilla on the nose. (Don’t recall that from the last bottle.) Cherry pits, chocolate then giving way to cedar followed by a distinct finish of tobo on the palate. Not a long finish, but just fine. Not decanted. Some slight sediment. Opened up nicely after 30 minutes. 12.5% alc. About $14.00 way back when. Nice little QPR at this point. With London broil and mushroom & onion sauce.
  Friday, September 12, 2003 A rich ruby colored wine. Brett, cherry, earth and chocolate cherry on the nose. But showing flavors of cherry, current, earth, violet, tobo and basil. Very distinct, but not overdone chocolate cherry on the finish. Some slight sediment on the side of the bottle. This is a medium bodied, elegent wine. The best this wine has shown since purchase, on release, for $14.00. 12.5% alc. With portobello mushrooms topped with tomato, cheddar, Dijon and basil. 9/11/03.
  Tuesday, April 20, 2004 Six months ago this showed quite well. Another data point seemed to be in order. Color of bright garnets in the center with bricking on the rim. A rather simple nose that did not appear to change much during the course of dinner with components of cherry, earth and cassis with the latter making a more pronounced appearance later. A medium bodied wine. This wine just never did - and never will - plump up. Nice flavor profile of cherry, cassis, rose with a dusty dry feel of drying tannins. The finish comes up flavorful with notes of plum and cassis, but short. With mustard coated pork tenderloin. Nice pairing.
  Thursday, April 21, 2005 This was a case purchase several years ago and while not a strong vintage, this is good every once in a while. This most recent data point was no different. Although its body i

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