The 2019 Château de Fonbel has an attractive bouquet of raspberry, briary and light minty scents with just a touch of freshly rolled tobacco. The palate is medium-bodied, quite cohesive and fleshy, delivering tobacco-tinged red fruit, moderate weight and a gentle grip toward the finish, which is lent a little sharpness by the 10% Cabernet Sauvignon.

From a 16-hectare vineyard on sandy soils on the plain, the 2019 Fonbel is a Merlot-dominant blend complemented by some Cabernet Sauvignon and, since 2004, Carmenère. Offering up aromas of blueberries, raspberries and loamy soil, it's a medium to full-bodied, ample and succulent wine with delicate tannins and a supple, giving profile. Fully 70% is matured in tank to keep the fruit in the foreground.