About this product
Château Fontenil is Michel Rolland's personal Fronsac — a Merlot-dominated blend (90%) with Cabernet Franc from clay-limestone soils at the foot of the Fronsac côte. Deep ruby with ripe plum, cassis, dark chocolate, cedar, and a mineral limestone freshness that lifts the wine's Merlot richness. The wine has Pomerol-like generosity combined with Fronsac's characteristic tannic firmness — requiring 6-10 years' aging for full expression.
Pairing intelligence
complement
Château Fontenil's Merlot-dominated Fronsac finds its natural pairing in slow-braised lamb — the collagen-rich shoulder softens the wine's firm clay-limestone tannin while amplifying its dark fruit. Root vegetables provide earthy sweetness; thyme jus bridges Bordeaux's herb dimension with the lamb's richness. A pairing that reveals Fronsac's resemblance to Pomerol in structure with a more rustic, satisfying character.
classic
main
complement
Fontenil Fronsac's plum and cassis Merlot character achieves a natural Gascon pairing with duck magret — the breast's rendered fat integrates the wine's firm structure while fig reduction amplifies the Merlot's primary fruit. Pommes sarladaises provide the rich potato-duck fat base that Fronsac's tannin demands. A southwest Bordeaux pairing that showcases Fronsac's undervalued potential.
established
main