2022 Chateau Fonsalette Côtes du Rhône Rouge
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Tasting notes
A blend of unknown proportions of Grenache and Cinsault, the 2022 Fonsalette Côtes du Rhône exhales an ethereal, distinctive bouquet of lilac, violet, garrigue, herbs and raspberries. Medium to full-bodied, with vertical energy and a structured, elegant tannic frame due to perfectly ripe Cinsault, it's long and perfumed with an ethereal, delicate finish. It's a gourmand rendition of Fonsalette.
Critic scores
Average Score
Alistair Cooper MW, jancisrobinson.com
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
Samples of Cinsault and Grenache tasted separately, from casks at the domain. Sample 1 : Cinsault. Quite simply stunningly beautiful – pure red fruit and rose hip, with white-pepper spice. The palate has subtle black-tea, herbal, slight garrigue notes. It is so vibrant and crystalline. Sample 2 : Grenache. Raspberry and wild-strawberry aromas with crushed sweet violets. The palate has density beneath an elegant, extremely light-footed palate. A liquorice-root and savoury element combines with a subtle meatiness. Superb. (AC)
I tasted two single-varietal barrel samples that will go into the 2022 Côtes-du-Rhône Réservé. While the Cinsault expresses a hauntingly floral, spicy and red-fruited profile, the Grenache comes across as almost equally spicy yet with a greater focus on ripe strawberry and kirsch aromas. The common denominators between both samples are the pale color, silky tannins and forward expression. I can’t wait to taste the finished wine.
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.