Category:
 
Red Wines
Sub-Category:  
 
Red Wines
Producer:
 
Fonsalette
Label Name:
 
Cote du Rhone Syrah
Vintage:
 
1999
Country:
 
France
Region:
 
Côtes du Rhône (Southern Rhône)
Volume:
 
750ml
ABV:
 
14%
Grape(s):
 
Syrah
Acidity:
 
3
Tannins:
 
5
Sweetness:
 
1
Body:
 
5
Length:
 
5
Aroma Intensity:
 
5
Best Temperature:
 
16-18°C

Awards/Ratings
Robert Parker (Wine Advocate) 91 pts (Dec 2001). Noted for long ageing potential (~2–3 decades). Market/auction listings confirm collector interest and strong secondary-market pricing

Tasting Note
Brooding black fruit, blackberry and cassis with notes of roasted meat, truffle, licorice, leather and dark spice. Very dense, brooding and full-bodied with ripe, tongue‑dusting tannins and a long, savory finish.

Food Pairing
Western: roast lamb, braised short ribs, grilled ribeye, mushroom ragu. Asian: Korean BBQ (bulgogi/grilled short rib), Sichuan beef stir-fry, Chinese red-braised beef, Japanese miso-grilled dishes, hearty Thai curries.

Production Method
Hand-harvested Syrah grapes fermented traditionally; cuvée aged in old/neutral oak and large casks to preserve purity and concentration. Low-intervention cellar practices from the Reynaud cellar.

Vineyard Info
Château de Fonsalette is produced by the Reynaud family (owners of Château Rayas). Small-production, high-quality Côtes‑du‑Rhône bottlings from cool, north-facing parcels; regarded as a concentrated, ageworthy Syrah cuvée.