2022 Cadillac Côtes de Bordeaux, Château de Fontenille

• Style: Balanced Cabernet Sauvignon & Merlot blend
• Taste: Black cherry, bramble, soft ripe tannins, lifted acidity
• Food: Roast beef, duck, aged cheese, stews & braises
• Occasion: Weeknight drinking, Sunday lunch
• Serve: 16–18°C, now or cellar 3–5 years

In the Glass — Tasting Notes

Black cherry and bramble lead the nose, with a whisper of sweet spice. The palate shows concentrated fruit, soft ripe tannins and refreshing acidity that keeps everything moving forward—full-bodied enough to feel serious, yet lifted enough to drink now. Twelve months in oak has built the structure without heaviness; at 14.5% alcohol, this is a balanced blend that sits in a sweet spot between depth and elegance.

The Winery — Château de Fontenille

Stéphane Defraine purchased this south-facing estate in 1989 and has methodically expanded it to 42 hectares, with 30 devoted to red varieties. The gravel and stone soils hold warmth that fully ripens both Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Fontenille's roots run centuries deep—monks from the nearby Abbaye de la Saude Majeure tended these vines for hundreds of years, and the vineyard remains part of a UNESCO-protected pilgrimage route. The 2022 vintage delivered ripe, healthy fruit despite challenging growing conditions, and Defraine's emphasis on soil management since 2005 shows in the wine's cleanliness and purity of fruit, offering considerably more substance than many rivals at this price.

At Your Table — Food Pairing & Serving

This is a wine that rewards the glass without fussing. Pair it with roasted beef, grilled duck, aged hard cheese, stews and braises, or cured meats. It's the kind you'll reach for midweek without overthinking it, yet serious enough for Sunday lunch. The balanced structure and lifted acidity make it equally at home on a weeknight table or anchoring a longer meal. Build your France collection with genuine Bordeaux character without pretension. Explore more from our Cabernet Sauvignon selection to discover how terroir and site orientation shape these classic blends.