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.
Rayas also makes three different Fonsalette wines; Chateau Rayas Fonsalette Cotes du Rhone Cuvee Syrah, Chateau Rayas Fonsalette Cotes du Rhone and Chateau Rayas Fonsalette Cotes du Rhone Blanc.
The wines of Fonsalette are made in the cellars of Rayas. In total, Emmanuel Reynaud owns 10 hectares of vines in the Cotes du Rhone appellation.
95 Points Jeb Dunnuck
The 2000 Fonsalette Côtes du Rhône Cuvee Syrah is just a sensational wine any way you look at it, and now at close to 17 years of age, its freshness and purity is even more remarkable. Offers terrific notes of ripe dark fruits, spice-box, saddle leather and garrigue, this beauty is seamless, silky and incredibly elegant on the palate. Possessing terrific purity, a balanced, seamless style and no hard edges, I don’t see any upside, yet it should easily keep for another 4-5 years.