Top Marks for Stellar Bordeaux Values from a Rising-Star Appellation

Producing “seductive wines” boasting “depth, elegance and freshness” according to Wine Advocate’s Yohan Castaing, Bordeaux’s underrated Fronsac appellation continues to rise with these top-scoring 2020s sourced from some of the region’s most outstanding producers. From an excellent vintage that “delivers the goods” according to Neal Martin of Vinous, this is a terrific opportunity to stock up on an array of age-worthy Bordeaux gems at a bargain price.

Situated on the Right Bank of the Garonne River northeast of Bordeaux city proper, Fronsac produces its red wines primarily from vines planted in a mix of clay and limestone soils as wells as pockets of a well-draining bedrock of clay, chalk, and sandstone found at some leading Saint-Emilion estates. Based predominantly on Merlot with smaller amounts of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cab Franc, these humble overachievers often compete with wines from neighboring St-Emilion “but at far better prices” according to Inside Bordeaux’s Jane Anson. Described as “just gorgeous” by Antonio Galloni of Vinous, the 93-point 2020 Château de la Dauphine boasts perfumed dark fruit with firm, soft tannins, while the “solidly built” 93-point 2020 Château Moulin Haut-Laroque “has good tension from underlying chalky minerality” according to Wine Spectator, both promising to evolve over the next decade. Crafted by former Mouton-Rothschild winemaker Patrick Leon, the 94-point 2020 Château Les Trois Croix is “a fabulous Fronsac” offering perfumed dark fruit with “a precise quite minerally finish that is pure class” according to Vinous' Neal Martin, while the “straight-up impressive” 2020 Château Fontenil boasts layers of spiced dark fruit and a “supple, elegant texture” according to Jeb Dunnuck's 95-point review, who declares it “a winner and well worth a case purchase.” Described as “one of the go-to names in the appellation” by Inside Bordeaux’s Jane Anson, the “superb” 93-point 2020 Château La Vieille Cure is “rich and sumptuous in the glass” according to Antonio Galloni of Vinous with “gorgeous depth and texture,” its silky tannins built to enjoy over the next decade and beyond.

From an undervalued, under-the-radar region delivering “high quality at a sensible price” according to Decanter, these superb 2020 Fronsac selections offer top value from “a great modern-day Bordeaux vintage.” Best of all, they're perfectly priced for Bordeaux bargain hunters to stock the cellar and enjoy for years to come.