Chateau Cap de Faugeres 2019

Blend: 85% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc

Wine Advocate: 91
Opaque purple-black colored, the 2019 Cap de Faugères delivers intense scents of prunes, Black Forest cake and ripe, fresh blackberries with hints of Marmite toast, tapenade, damp soil and truffles. The full-bodied palate delivers mouth-coating black fruit preserves with a velvety texture and tons of freshness, finishing long and earthy.

Decanter: 91
Pumped up but nicely balanced by freshness, this is full of dark fruits and is an enjoyable Castillon, without doubt one of the best of the appellation. Silvio Denz-owned estate, where the natural austerity of Castillon soils works well with the exuberance of his winemaking style.

Vinous: 93
The 2019 Cap de Faugères has a typical Fronsac bouquet with dense blackberry, briary and melted tar aromas that kind of shut the door in your face for broaching it prematurely. I don't mind that - it's still delineated and develops an appealing loam character. The palate is medium-bodied with quite hard tannins, a broad-shouldered and grippy wine in the making with a potent briny finish. It will certainly require several years in the cellar, but it is still a Fronsac with character.

Vinous: 93

The 2019 Cap de Faugères has a typical Fronsac bouquet with dense blackberry, briary and melted tar aromas that kind of shut the door in your face for broaching it prematurely. I don't mind that - it's still delineated and develops an appealing loam character. The palate is medium-bodied with quite hard tannins, a broad-shouldered and grippy wine in the making with a potent briny finish. It will certainly require several years in the cellar, but it is still a Fronsac with character.

Jeb Dunnuck: 90
Another perennial overachiever, Château Cap de Faugères delivers a brilliant, pleasure-bent wine year-in, year out. Their 2019 offers a juicy, up-front, savory, already complex style as well as notes of red and black fruits, new leather, herbes de Provence, and dried flowers. Mouth-filling, nicely structured, and medium-bodied, give it a year or two to shed some tannins and enjoy . Best after 2023.

Jeb Dunnuck: 90

Another perennial overachiever, Château Cap de Faugères delivers a brilliant, pleasure-bent wine year-in, year out. Their 2019 offers a juicy, up-front, savory, already complex style as well as notes of red and black fruits, new leather, herbes de Provence, and dried flowers. Mouth-filling, nicely structured, and medium-bodied, give it a year or two to shed some tannins and enjoy . Best after 2023.