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.