2007 Côtes du Rhône, Cuvée Syrah, Château de Fonsalette

2007 Côtes du Rhône, Cuvée Syrah, Château de Fonsalette

Product: 20078037796
 
2007 Côtes du Rhône, Cuvée Syrah, Château de Fonsalette

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Description

I have followed the Fonsalette Cotes du Rhones since the mid-1960s, and it is a candidate for one of the finest and longest-lived Cotes du Rhones in nearly every top vintage. Emmanuel Reynaud has made a wonderful 2007 that displays terrific Provencal character with large quantities of kirsch, lavender, licorice, roasted herbs and some pepper and meatiness. It is medium to full-bodied, relatively evolved for a Fonsalette, but dont let that confuse you, because this wine will age for 10-15 years at the very minimum.
Robert M. Parker, Jr. - 31/10/2012

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Critics reviews

Wine Advocate91/100
I have followed the Fonsalette Cotes du Rhones since the mid-1960s, and it is a candidate for one of the finest and longest-lived Cotes du Rhones in nearly every top vintage. Emmanuel Reynaud has made a wonderful 2007 that displays terrific Provencal character with large quantities of kirsch, lavender, licorice, roasted herbs and some pepper and meatiness. It is medium to full-bodied, relatively evolved for a Fonsalette, but dont let that confuse you, because this wine will age for 10-15 years at the very minimum.
Robert M. Parker, Jr. - 31/10/2012 Read more

About this WINE

Château Rayas

Château Rayas

Jacques Reynaud, who died in 1997, was one of the true characters in Châteauneuf. A notoriously shy and private man, he was known to avoid appointments by hiding in ditches that lined the rutted driveway leading to his château. However, he was recognised as one of the world's greatest winemakers and the legacy of Château Rayas is now continued by his son François.

So many practices here seem to run contrary to other producers in Châteauneuf - the 13 hectares of vines are north facing and contain none of the fabled "galets roulés". Only Grenache is used and yields at around 15hl/h are ridiculously low. Almost uniquely the wines are matured in the now rarely seen 450 litre "double-piéce" oak casks. These are substantial and exotically rich wines that are quite literally unique.

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Châteauneuf-du-Pape

Châteauneuf-du-Pape

The most celebrated village of the Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape is the birthplace of the now indispensable French Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée system – imperfect though it may be. Compared to the Northern Rhône, the vineyards here are relatively flat and often feature the iconic galet pebbles – the precise benefits of which are a source of much debate. Minimum alcohol levels required by the AOC are the highest in France, but at 12.5% it is well below the natural generosity of Grenache, which only achieves its full aromatic potential when it is fully ripe and laden with the resultant high sugars. Syrah and Mourvèdre contribute the other defining elements in the blend, adding pepper, savoury spice and structure to the decadent Grenache. There are a further 10 permitted red grape varieties which can be used to adjust the “seasoning”. Of the five white varieties permitted, it is Grenache Noir’s sibling – predictably perhaps – Grenache Blanc, which dominates, though Roussanne shows a great deal of promise when handled well, notably at Château de Beaucastel.

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Syrah/Shiraz

Syrah/Shiraz

A noble black grape variety grown particularly in the Northern Rhône where it produces the great red wines of Hermitage, Cote Rôtie and Cornas, and in Australia where it produces wines of startling depth and intensity. Reasonably low yields are a crucial factor for quality as is picking at optimum ripeness. Its heartland, Hermitage and Côte Rôtie, consists of 270 hectares of steeply terraced vineyards producing wines that brim with pepper, spices, tar and black treacle when young. After 5-10 years they become smooth and velvety with pronounced fruit characteristics of damsons, raspberries, blackcurrants and loganberries.

It is now grown extensively in the Southern Rhône where it is blended with Grenache and Mourvèdre to produce the great red wines of Châteauneuf du Pape and Gigondas amongst others. Its spiritual home in Australia is the Barossa Valley, where there are plantings dating as far back as 1860. Australian Shiraz tends to be sweeter than its Northern Rhône counterpart and the best examples are redolent of new leather, dark chocolate, liquorice, and prunes and display a blackcurrant lusciousness.

South African producers such as Eben Sadie are now producing world- class Shiraz wines that represent astonishing value for money.

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