Awards/Ratings

Notable scores: Wine Spectator 93 (2002), Int'l Wine Cellar 92, Wine Advocate ~90; later tastings/Falstaff ~90–93. See professional reviews and auction listings for recorded scores

Tasting Note

Black fruit (blackberry, plum), cracked black pepper, smoked meat, leather and earthy mineral notes; firm tannins, bright acidity and a long, savory finish with dried spice and licorice undertones.

Food Pairing

Western: roast lamb, grilled or braised beef, game, hearty stews, aged hard cheeses. Asian: Korean barbecue (bulgogi), char siu, Peking duck, spicy Sichuan beef or grilled yakitori (chicken skewers).

Production Method

Hand-harvested Syrah, fermented with native yeasts, moderate maceration and aged in old/large oak casks (short new oak influence); often bottled unfined and unfiltered.

Vineyard Info

Château de Fonsalette (Reynaud family) — estate near Lagarde-Paréol acquired by Louis Reynaud in 1945; Emmanuel Reynaud manages wines linked to Château Rayas. Estate farms old-vine Syrah parcels for the cuvée.