Alvaro Bustillos

9.5

Dia padre casa mazf — 3 days ago

Jay Kline

10

Served double-blind as a sort of epilogue to an already epic night. This was served alongside another red wine that was also presented double-blind. Immediately, I called this Southern Rhone and the other wine, Sangiovese from Toscano (it ended up being a 2012 Biondi Santi Riserva). This presented a bright ruby color in the glass with a transparent core. This wine…had an OMG nose. The kind of aromatics that could end all wars and bring a century of peace to all mankind. It’s both powerful and elegant. Both ripe and fresh. An androgynous wine that represents both masculine and feminine with a grace that would make Prince or David Bowie envious. Gorgeously layered red and dark fruits, exotic spices, licorice and garrigue wrapped in the most beautifully textured package imaginable. It reminded me of something similar a previous experience; like Fonsalette…but this was different, there was more here. When you taste this, everything becomes clear. You look at everyone at the table differently; for what you have more in common instead of what makes us different. An experience akin to an Odesza show on MDMA. It’s that profound and then you are forever changed. You wake up the next day, and the day after that, and the day after that and weeks go by and your worldview is different. You see love in everything. And then it was revealed to be a 2010 Chateau Rayas. *Insert expletive*. A magnificent wine. An epiphany and, as far as I’m concerned, perfect. This is not merely a great Chateauneuf du Pape. This transcends the appellation. It should be its own AOC. Drink now or whenever you’re reading this note. — 3 years ago

Michael Simonetti

9.6

Dream. Herbs. Game. Fruit. — 8 years ago

Kenta Hayashi

9.3

One of the trick wines brought to a Burg tasting. Only remember the floral nose with a bit of greenness (stems) and tinge of sweetness at the end. The last bit should have revealed the producer. On the second day, the wine is very much more Rhone like and reminds me of Fonsalette but much more ethereal and airy. Nose is dominated by figs compote, prunes, raisins. Luscious and has nice density that I don't come across from Burgs. Lovely! — 8 years ago

Michael Myers

9.0

2012. I honestly don't understand the horrible CT reviews of this wine - bottle variation I'm guessing? I very much enjoyed it. Certainly more southern Rhone-esque than northern Rhone, and yet -- it's f***ing Shiraz. So even comparing it to Rhone is a win. This is definitely not to be compared to the Syrah of Cote Rotie or St Joseph, *but* it actually had some similarities to the Fonsalette Cote Du Rhone Syrahs I've tried (ok, granted, not as complex, but still, that Southern Rhone Syrah sappiness with a brain, meaning quite enough complexity to keep me intrigued). I'd actually purchase this again for $30. To me, a repurchase is high praise. — 12 years ago

Jeremy Shanker

Sommelier at RN74

9.3

Delicious Grenache. Fonsalette lite — a year ago

Alvaro Bustillos

9.4

Pozas pelicans — 3 years ago

Alvaro Bustillos

9.5

Papa su cumple — 5 years ago

Mike Evans

9.4

A brilliant aged Syrah more reminiscent of Cote Rotie than anything else. It keeps getting more youthful and complex with air. Fantastic. — 8 years ago

Hickoryburger

9.5

And 2001 Fonsalette Syrah — 8 years ago

PSH

9.7

$80 applejack Xmas 2015 — 10 years ago

Mark Rosse

9.2

Great cork. A bit of a let down after the Fonsalette. — 2 years ago

Gilbert Van Hassel

9.1

Predominantly Grenache with a fair bit of cinsault, meatier than his famous brother Rayas but still a great Côtes du Rhône. Drink now.
— 3 years ago

Lee Lightfoot

9.2

Phenomenal value for an ageable Syrah heavy Cotes du Rhone. Like a baby fonsalette, cracked pepper red and purple fruit savory warm sand and herbs. Light to medium body, crushable with great acid and still kicking on day 2. — 5 years ago

with Alex

Keith Herrick

9.5

Compared to the juge and the fonsalette, this was totally reserved. Meat, olive, sage, granite and plum. Dark fruits, and for Syrah, a subtle aroma. This wine is very young but I would not call it closed up. Fairly tannic as well. — 8 years ago

Daniel M

9.1

Blood orange,liquorice , strawberry, violet (?), grilled meat(?!) on the nose. I could spend the evening with my nose upon this glass! What a nose ! Blood orange again on the palate which tends to have this bitter feeling all along the acid backbone. Red fruits around there too. Not as Burgundian and ethereal and precise as the chateau (cdr) in the same vintage but I can feel the lineage here. The finish is long with a bitter salty touch. Wow again. For a 13€ price-tag I could have this any given day. Perhaps one of the best value ever encountered. I can’t wait to open the big big brother fonsalette — 8 years ago