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Chateau de Fonsalette

2005 Chateau de Fonsalette, Cotes du Rhone, Rouge

France Cinsault Grenache Syrah Rhone Cotes du Rhone 750ML

Wine Advocate

93

Vinous

91
/
2005 Chateau de Fonsalette, Cotes du Rhone, Rouge
Chateau de Fonsalette

2005 Chateau de Fonsalette, Cotes du Rhone, Rouge

France Cinsault Grenache Syrah Rhone Cotes du Rhone 750ML

Wine Advocate

93

Vinous

91
/
0 In Stock

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Spoken about in hushed tones by many a collector, Chateau Rayas - and all of its arms from Fonsalette to Chateau des Tours - is known as the greatest Grenache producer in the world. After his uncle Jacques' passing in 1997, Emmanuel Reynaud has continually crafted phenomenal wines from each estate that are sought the world over.

Chateau de Fonsalette

Several generations have run the Chateau Rayas, but Jacques Reynaud took the wines into the stratosphere, where Emmanuel has only served to keep them since his ascendance in 1997. Almost as reticent in accepting his fame as Jacques - who used to hide when cars would approach the Chateau - Emmanuel guards closely his recipe to the legendary wines escaping the estate every year.

We know that the vines are ancient and produce small, intense yields. There is no temperature-control in the cellars, and the wines ferment in concrete before being transferred to ancient barrels of several different sizes. That's it - no magic tricks, just patience; the wines will ferment for about a year, and then will be aged in bottle at the estates until they are deemed ready to drink; routinely vintages are released nearly a decade after their fermentations conclude.

Fonsalette, just outside of Chateauneuf-du-Pape, is home to 30 acres of old-vine Grenache, Cinsault and Syrah which create the red wines; Grenache Blanc, Clairette and Marsanne lend the base for the white. Beyond the quality of any Cotes-du-Rhone wine before or since, these are nearly parallel in quality to the Rayas wines themselves.

Meet the Producer

Chateau de Fonsalette

Spoken about in hushed tones by many a collector, Chateau Rayas - and all of its arms from Fonsalette to Chateau des Tours - is known as the greatest Grenache producer in the world. After his uncle Jacques' passing in 1997, Emmanuel Reynaud has continually crafted phenomenal wines from each estate that are sought the world over.

Several generations have run the Chateau Rayas, but Jacques Reynaud took the wines into the stratosphere, where Emmanuel has only served to keep them since his ascendance in 1997. Almost as reticent in accepting his fame as Jacques - who used to hide when cars would approach the Chateau - Emmanuel guards closely his recipe to the legendary wines escaping the estate every year.

We know that the vines are ancient and produce small, intense yields. There is no temperature-control in the cellars, and the wines ferment in concrete before being transferred to ancient barrels of several different sizes. That's it - no magic tricks, just patience; the wines will ferment for about a year, and then will be aged in bottle at the estates until they are deemed ready to drink; routinely vintages are released nearly a decade after their fermentations conclude.

Fonsalette, just outside of Chateauneuf-du-Pape, is home to 30 acres of old-vine Grenache, Cinsault and Syrah which create the red wines; Grenache Blanc, Clairette and Marsanne lend the base for the white. Beyond the quality of any Cotes-du-Rhone wine before or since, these are nearly parallel in quality to the Rayas wines themselves.

The Wine Advocate

Wine Advocate

93

The 2005 Fonsalette Cotes du Rhone is a blockbuster. This blend of 50% Grenache, 35% Cinsault, and 15% Syrah has a dark ruby/purple color and a beautifully structured style with notes of black truffle, licorice, black currant, and sweet cherry intermixed with some crushed rock and flowers. The wine is beautifully broad, savory, and exceptionally well-delineated and focused. This is a magnificent wine that should be at its best between 2010 and 2025. This great estate has been going through a transitional period, with some replanting in their vineyards, and of course the enormous challenge of replacing the legendary proprietor and winemaker, the late Jacques Reynaud, who passed away in the winter of 1997. Replaced by his nephew Emmanuel Reynaud, who had worked closely with his uncle, the early vintages, as I reported on in this publication, were good but hardly exciting. Reason to be concerned about the direction in which the estate was going was a legitimate worry. The 1998, 1999, and 2000 vintages were vintages where Rayas was well behind the pack of top producers in Chateauneuf du Pape. However, with that said, the tasting I did with Emmanuel Reynaud in late August was the best tasting I have done with him in a decade, and while it may be premature to say that Rayas is back to the greatness of Jacques Reynaud, Emmanuel has made some fabulous wines that are going to be released over the next

Vinous

Vinous

91

Medium red. Spicy cherry and blackcurrant on the nose, with deeper licorice and tobacco adding power. Fresher red berry flavors show impressive minerality. Finishes with silky tannins, gentle grip and an echo of sweet red berries. This has very good balance and focus.

What the Critics are Saying

The Wine Advocate

Wine Advocate

93

The 2005 Fonsalette Cotes du Rhone is a blockbuster. This blend of 50% Grenache, 35% Cinsault, and 15% Syrah has a dark ruby/purple color and a beautifully structured style with notes of black truffle, licorice, black currant, and sweet cherry intermixed with some crushed rock and flowers. The wine is beautifully broad, savory, and exceptionally well-delineated and focused. This is a magnificent wine that should be at its best between 2010 and 2025. This great estate has been going through a transitional period, with some replanting in their vineyards, and of course the enormous challenge of replacing the legendary proprietor and winemaker, the late Jacques Reynaud, who passed away in the winter of 1997. Replaced by his nephew Emmanuel Reynaud, who had worked closely with his uncle, the early vintages, as I reported on in this publication, were good but hardly exciting. Reason to be concerned about the direction in which the estate was going was a legitimate worry. The 1998, 1999, and 2000 vintages were vintages where Rayas was well behind the pack of top producers in Chateauneuf du Pape. However, with that said, the tasting I did with Emmanuel Reynaud in late August was the best tasting I have done with him in a decade, and while it may be premature to say that Rayas is back to the greatness of Jacques Reynaud, Emmanuel has made some fabulous wines that are going to be released over the next

Vinous

Vinous

91

Medium red. Spicy cherry and blackcurrant on the nose, with deeper licorice and tobacco adding power. Fresher red berry flavors show impressive minerality. Finishes with silky tannins, gentle grip and an echo of sweet red berries. This has very good balance and focus.