We use cookies for analytics and to improve our site. You agree to our use of cookies by closing this message box or continuing to use our site. To find out more, including how to change your settings, see our Cookie Policy.
Dismiss

Chateau De Fonsalette

Château Rayas

Reserve Château de Fonsalette Côtes du Rhône Red Rhone Blend 2006

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego
9.5

2006 vintage. Opened and put aside for a half hour, then decanted and tasted after an hour. Excellent fill and cork with minimal sed. Rusty, brickish color. Earthy, spicy nose. Light bodied. Phenomenal amounts of undying back palate push and spice “componentry” to vault this into Holy Bleep territory. Another decade at this level. Such a pleasure. 04.18.25. — 13 days ago

Ted, David and 12 others liked this
Tom Casagrande

Tom Casagrande Influencer Badge

You lucked out. Last three bottles I’ve had of Fonsallette from the aughts were, of necessity, purchased on the secondary market and obviously poorly stored by some rich a**holes who didn’t give a sh*t and didn’t appreciate what their wealth and connections were able to get. As a result, all three bottles I got were tired and browning. Still, the memory I have of how great these wines can be (from the 80s and early 90s before they acquired cult status) keep me rolling the dice and spending $$ I shouldn’t searching to re-live that magic despite the risk of poor storage.

Chateau de Fonsalette

Réservé Côtes du Rhône Syrah 2011

Steve Medbery
9.6

Heaven in a glass. Just a bit in your mouth and it bursts with flavors of dried fruit and spice — 8 months ago

Château Rayas

Château de Fonsalette Réservé Côtes du Rhône Red Rhône Blend 2007

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.
 — 2 years ago

Jan, Ira and 2 others liked this

A Tribute to Grace Wines

Santa Barbara Highlands Grenache 2018

Jeremy Shanker
9.3

Delicious Grenache. Fonsalette lite — 19 days ago

Pooneet, Tom and 2 others liked this

Château Rayas

Chateau de Fonsalette Réservé Côtes du Rhône Syrah 2008

Jay Kline
9.4

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of three days and consistent throughout. The 2008 Cuvèe Syrah pours a deep, hazy ruby/purple color with a near translucent core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with heady notes of ripe black and red fruits: mixed brambles, garrigue, lavender, black pepper, salmiakki, olive brine, spiced and cured meat, and dry stony earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish lasts for ten minutes (no cap); savory and spicy. This is my second time getting to enjoy this truly special wine and both experiences were consistent. Drink now with a 30min decant and enjoy through 2033. — 3 months ago

Daniel, A. and 14 others liked this
Tom Casagrande

Tom Casagrande Influencer Badge

Very lucky to be able to find this these days. Someone’s hoarding them. Not sure who . . . but I will track. them. down.
Jay Kline

Jay Kline Influencer Badge Premium Badge

@Tom Casagrande for real. Even Chateau des Tours is nearly impossible to find anymore and secondary pricing is painful.
Tom Casagrande

Tom Casagrande Influencer Badge

@Jay Kline - And secondary storage conditions are Russian Roulette.

Domaine Gramenon

Sierra du Sud Côtes du Rhône Syrah

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. — 4 years ago

Alex Lallos
with Alex
Andrew, Dawn and 2 others liked this
Alex Lallos

Alex Lallos Influencer Badge

Super! Dark with boysenberry and sous bois nose. At its peak but will continue to evolve. Lovely
9.2

Chateau de Fonsalette

Réservé Côtes du Rhône Red Rhône Blend 1990

Ron Siegel
9.4

Really showing well — 2 months ago

Jan, Tom and 7 others liked this
Tom Casagrande

Tom Casagrande Influencer Badge

You’re lucky! It must have been stored well. I’ve had bad luck with younger bottles purchased in secondary markets.

Château de Beaucastel

Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhône Blend 1998

Mark Rosse
9.2

Great cork. A bit of a let down after the Fonsalette. — 5 months ago

Severn liked this

Château Rayas

Château de Fonsalette Réservé Côtes du Rhône White Rhône Blend 2000

Alvaro Bustillos
9.4

Pozas pelicans — 2 years ago

Jan and James liked this

Thierry Allemand

Cornas Reynard (R) Syrah 2007

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. — 7 years ago

Ira and Seth liked this