Château Rayas Côtes du Rhône Château de Fonsalette Reserve

Purchased upon release for $10 and stored in passive cool cellar. High fill but cork saturated all the way to the top. Pretty ruby color with no browning. Initially closed but with air, complex bouquet of red fruits, earth, smoked meat and flowers emerged. Great length and balance on the palate with plenty of fruit and life left. Flavors echo the nose. Some tannins remain in the finish. No VA noted in this bottle. A beautiful old Cotes do Rhone!

Nice mature colour. Animalistic and VA on the nose. The VA even comes through on the palate ruining it. Sweet and just a bit nasty.

At the office (contributed by yours truly) with Brett Raven and Michael Lehmann. Very darkly colored. Only the slightest edge of color variation. No browning. Very typical Rhone nose. Slightly gamy. Quite powerful entry. Assertive but somehow not bothersome acidity. Quite peppery. Not a trace of age. Could be mistaken for a much younger wine. Hard to believe it's a Cotes du Rhone. 4–12–16–7: 89/100.