1999 Chateau Fonsalette Côtes du Rhône Rouge
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Tasting notes
The 1999 Côtes du Rhône has an impressive nose with black fruit, cola and graphite, a little tertiary in style, with a subtle marine influence. There is clear use of stems, maybe just a bit too conspicuous? The palate is medium-bodied with sappy red fruit, white pepper and thyme towards a “cool” finish that lingers nicely in the mouth.
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Neal Martin
More reviews and scores
The medium dark ruby-colored 1999 Fonsalette Cotes du Rhone reveals an intriguing perfume of peppery black cherries, earth, and underbrush, medium body, excellent purity as well as light tannin in the finish. If it puts on weight it will merit another point or two. Anticipated maturity: 2002-2014. Importers: Alain Junguenet, Wines of France, Mountainside, NJ; tel. (908) 654-6173 and Martine's Wines, Novato, CA; tel. (415) 883-0400
Cinsault cuvee, to comprise 25% of the blend: Highly aromatic nose of strawberry and mint. Dense, sweet and layered in the mouth, with an ineffable strawberry perfume. An extraordinary sample of cinsault. Grenache: Medium red. Pungent red fruits, leather, meat and spices on the nose. Spice, pepper and animal notes on the palate. Good but not outstanding concentration.
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.