Category:
 
Red Wines
Sub-Category:  
 
Red Wines
Producer:
 
Fonsalette
Label Name:
 
Cote du Rhone
Vintage:
 
2003
Country:
 
France
Region:
 
Côtes du Rhône (Southern Rhône, near Châteauneuf‑du‑Pape)
Volume:
 
750ml
ABV:
 
14%
Grape(s):
 
Grenache (50%), Cinsault (35%), Syrah (15%).
Acidity:
 
3
Tannins:
 
4
Sweetness:
 
1
Body:
 
5
Length:
 
4
Aroma Intensity:
 
4
Best Temperature:
 
16-18°C

Awards/Ratings
Robert Parker (Wine Advocate) 90 pts (2004 review) and Wine Spectator 90 (2006); La Revue du Vin de France 17/20; Bettane & Desseauve ~16. 5/20

Tasting Note
Concentrated dark-plum, kirsch and raspberry fruit with cocoa, lavender, pepper and gamey/roasted-meat notes; firm, grainy tannins and a long savory finish.

Food Pairing
Roast lamb, beef stew, grilled steak, aged cheeses; Asian: Peking duck, char siu, Korean BBQ short ribs, Sichuan-style beef, rich miso dishes.

Production Method
Traditional fermentation of southern Rhône blends; aged in old oak casks (old barrels) to retain fruit and produce fine-grained tannins.

Vineyard Info
Château de Fonsalette (linked to the Raynaud family/Château Rayas) — a small estate producing Rhône blends with a Rayas-like style under Emmanuel Raynaud.