History
Owned by the Vauthier family since 1971, Château de Fonbel has received special attention, because its vineyard is a test-bed for Château Ausone and its second wine, Chapelle d’Ausone.
Vineyards
Lovers of their job as winegrowers, Alain Vauthier and his daughter Pauline apply exacting high standards and technical know-how to this estate located on the Saint-Émilion plain. Not far south of the village, Château de Fonbel covers 16 hectares where the Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenère – that old Bordeaux grape variety – and Petit Verdot find their chosen land on sandy-clay, gravel or simply sandy soils. The wine here i...
Winemaking
Depending on the vintage, part of the wine is vinified in temperature-controlled stainless-steel tanks and then goes into barrel to give lightness, elegance and flavour. The Château de Fonbel blend always contains around 85% Merlot, complemented by the other grape varieties, allowing a wide range of blending possibilities. Challengers by nature, and benefiting from certain innovations before their illustrious neighbours, the estate’s wines exp...