Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2020 Fonreaud leaps from the glass with notes of crushed black and red currants, sautéed herbs and espresso, followed by hints of cracked black pepper, graphite and charcoal. The medium-bodied palate is a little lean, tart and green, delivering chewy, slightly hard tannins, finishing short.

Deep garnet-purple, the 2018 Fonreaud is a little cedary to start, opening out to expressive notions of wild blueberries, black plums and cassis with hints of fragrant earth and tobacco. The medium to full-bodied palate is wearing the wood in its chewy texture, with loads of earth-sparked black fruit and a peppery kick to the finish.

Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2017 Fonreaud is sporting a lot of oak at this stage, followed up by smudged black and red fruit notes, sautéed herbs and scorched earth. The medium-bodied is a little lean and chewy with appealing herbal freshness on the finish.

The 2016 Fonreaud is certainly a Listrac that is worth checking out. The bouquet is very well defined with supremely well-integrated oak that allows the terroir to show through. There is a subtle Margaux-like floral scent coming through. The palate is very well balanced with fine tannins and a very good backbone. This Fonreaud is one of the most precise that I have tasted and there is tangible tension all the way through to the refined finish. This Listrac has produced some very fine wines recently and this 2016 could be the best yet.