The 2019 Fonplégade Bordeaux Blend from Saint-Émilion, France, showcases a harmonious blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, reflecting its origins on a south-facing hillside. The wine, clocking in at 15% alcohol, is known for its rich and powerful character due to its clay-rich soils.

James Suckling awarded it an outstanding 95 points, describing it as "full-bodied with plush tannins," and highlighting its "polished, rich core of dark and blue fruit" with a long, flavorful finish. He advises patience for the integration of oak spice, recommending to drink from 2025.

Jeb Dunnuck also praised this vintage with a score of 94, noting its "ripe black cherries, cassis, spring flowers, sandalwood, and classy oak" on the nose. He remarked on its medium to full-bodied palate, suggesting it will evolve nicely over the next 15-20 years.

Jeff Leve echoes the excellence with another 95-point score, appreciating the "silky tannins, sweet red, polished, soft, ripe fruits" and its finesse-driven style. He suggests allowing 6-8 years for further development.

Antonio Galloni from Vinous gave a nod to the wine's elegance and character, describing it as "elegant, refined and full of character" with notes of "sweet dark cherry, chocolate, leather, spice, menthol and licorice." He emphasizes that Fonplégade prioritizes elegance over sheer power.

The wine's rich texture and powerful structure are also highlighted by Wine Enthusiast's Roger Voss, who rated it at 94 points, noting the "concentrated and juicy, superripe" nature due to the high proportion of Merlot.

Though Robert Parker's Wine Advocate rated it slightly lower at 91 points, it acknowledged the wine's "fleshy, generous" character, indicative of its impactful style. Overall, the 2019 Fonplégade is a robust, yet elegant wine with a promising future.