Who says you can’t drink good Bordeaux on the cheap? The weather has changed and the night air was crisp, so I reached for a bottle of Bordeaux and came up with the 2004 Chateau Fontenil Fronsac, from a right-bank property owned by none other than Michel Rolland. This vintage is finally coming around and the wine was superb. Average price on WineSearcher.com is $29.
When I first tasted this wine a number of years ago it was hard and unyielding; not unpleasant, but lacking the charm it now exudes. It remains youthful, however, and has many more years of life for those so inclined. But I would recommend that you drink up now, for this is the sort of Bordeaux you need in the cupboard to satisfy that Bordeaux craving while you wait for more powerful vintages from prestige chateaux to mature.
In that sense Fronsac, an AOC next door to Pomerol, is a go-to appellation for Bordeaux lovers in need of affordable everyday wines.
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