Category:
 
Red Wines
Sub-Category:  
 
Red Wines
Producer:
 
Fonsalette
Label Name:
 
Cote du Rhone
Vintage:
 
1998
Country:
 
France
Region:
 
Southern Rhône (Côtes-du-Rhône AOC)
Volume:
 
750ml
ABV:
 
14%
Grape(s):
 
Syrah
Acidity:
 
3
Tannins:
 
4
Sweetness:
 
1
Body:
 
5
Length:
 
4
Aroma Intensity:
 
4
Best Temperature:
 
16-18°C

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.