Château Fonroque 2013
Run by d’Alain Moueix
Technical Director Laurent Nougaro
Vintage weather conditions
The winter and early spring were cold with rainfall slightly above average, slowing the growth cycle. There was significant rain in May and June, in terms of both cumulative quantity and the number of rainy days (28 days over two months in Libourne). The heavy rainfall around flowering (more than 120 mm in a week in some places) resulted in exceptional levels of fruit drop and shot berries. This dampness was combined with low temperatures, helping to avoid explosive downy mildew development despite significant pressure. The summer, although late to arrive, was hot and sunny with major storm activity in July and early August. These summery conditions enabled rapid growth, making up for part of the delay to the growth cycle. Veraison took some time to arrive due to the water content in the soil. The autumn was damp. The harvest had to be brought forward in some plots because the grapes were becoming very sensitive to grey rot as they reached optimum ripeness.
Harvest area*
17,17 hectares
Harvest terroir*
Limestone plateau and limestone-clay hillside
Grapes harvested*
87% Merlot – 13% Cabernet Franc
Harvest dates
25 September to 2 October
Winemaking
Cultivation methods
Estate certified organic since 2006 and biodynamic since 2008 – member of Biodyvin.
Maturation
30% new barrels and 70% that have contained at least one previous wine
Yield
16,8 hectolitres / ha
Production
15.336 bottles
* For this Vintage.
Tasting notes
A deep ruby red. Both fruity (blueberry) and floral (violet, lilac) on the nose, brought together with smoky aromas. Fresh, juicy and crisp on the palate. A warming finish. Despite its medium density, these wines offer beautiful fruit, good balance and freshness. The harmony is thanks to minimalistic winemaking with huge respect for the grapes. In a vintage like this, oenological ‘tweaking’ creates a springtime illusion but quickly deprives the wine of the genuine balance that is vital for a long life.
Notes updated by Alain Moueix – 2017
‘Achieving fully ripe grapes was difficult in 2013, as the weather conditions were particularly adverse. This was an interesting challenge and I was pleased with the results. The wine does not have the depth of the finest vintages, but it has the sophistication of its terroir. Biodynamics promotes the limestone’s expression, giving the wine a thirst-quenching freshness and a lingering finish. This is definitely a wine to drink young, but it will astonish us with its finesse after a decade or so.’