1990 Chateau Fonsalette Côtes du Rhône Rouge
Market price
Buying options
Tasting notes
Looks quite mature – mid ruby. Very open and stinky/funky – almost Beaucastel-like! (It was served blind.) Some tasters might discard this wine because of assumed brett. 26 Jun 2004 (JR)
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
This dark ruby/purple-colored wine displays the essence of cherry, kirsch, and Provencal herbs in its nose. Quite full-bodied, this large, fleshy wine reveals corpulent, sweet, expansive, rich flavors that linger on the palate. It is a lavishly rich Cotes du Rhone, with a thick texture and enough alcohol and soft tannin to keep it going for a minimum of 8-12 years. A great bargain. Imported by Martine's Wines, San Rafael, CA; tel. (415) 485-1800, Wines of France, Alain Junguenet, Mountainside, NJ; tel. (908) 654-6173, and Ideal Wines, Medford, MA; tel. (617) 395-3300
About the producer

Ch. Rayas is a cult name in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. The wines – pure, silken expressions of Grenache with distinctive perfume – are revered for their singularity and fiercely collected. Made by Emmanuel Reynaud and renowned for their ageability, they have become some of the region's most sought-after.