Château Fonbadet has been owned by the Peyronie family for 4 generations. Fonbadet can be translated into fountain of the little valley. The 20-hectares vineyard is planted to 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc, 2.5% Petit Verdot, and 2.5% Malbec. The terroir is gravel and sand soils. The vines are old, more than 50 years of age.
To produce the wine of Château Fonbadet, vinification takes place in concrete vats. Malolactic fermentation takes place in tank. The wine is aged in 30%, new French oak barrels for 18 months. On average, close to 8,000 cases are produced each year.
A textbook Pauillac, the 1978 Fonbadet has a well-developed bouquet of cedar, ripe plums and currants, and well-balanced, deeply fruity and earthy flavors. Quite impressive given its age.