Community Tasting Notes 7

• acyso wrote: flawed

  November 10, 2022 - "The mind is willing, but the flesh is weak" (Chicago, IL): Probably not a correct showing of this wine, given the slight oxidative elements on the palate here. Surprisingly fruity despite those oxidative qualities; probably drinkable if you really tried, there just wasn't much of a point to that tonight.

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• Wine Canuck wrote: 95 points

  September 30, 2022 - From a bottle with a very high fill in clearly good condition. This pours medium ruby in the glass with flecks of purple and very light bricking. The nose is immediately expressive, and opens further over the course of the following hour. Refined aromas of dried blueberry, cassis, black pepper, spice, dry dusty soil, leather, animal fur, and faint tobacco waft from the glass. The palate features lovely balance with lush dried blueberry on entry, turning to medium minus tannin and medium acid. The finish is perhaps the best part of this wine popping with whips of spice, pepper, and leather. All in all this was just as high quality as I had expected it to be. The aromatics might be just a touch less expressive than I had hoped, but the overall sense of polish and refinement is impressive and the finish just glorious. Brilliant bottle of Syrah, drinking in a great spot. If anything perhaps on the front side of its development curve with decades of continued great drinking ahead.

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• CamWheeler wrote: 93 points

  August 21, 2015 - Rayas and friends: Rich nose - ink, plum, spice, graphite and violets with some charcoal as well. The palate shows good grip from tannins, which works with the still youthful fruit and fine acidity. In a really nice spot for drinking now.

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• William Kelley Likes this wine: 94 points

  July 12, 2015 - The 1994 Fonsalette Syrah is a glorious example of Southern France's greatest expression of this grape. The expressive nose bursts from the glass with waves of sweet cassis, roasted squab, woodsmoke, mocha and subtle saddle leather. On the palate the wine is deep, broad and rich, with layers of juicy, sauvage fruit. Not for the faint-hearted, but terrific stuff.

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• d'Artagnan wrote: 92 points

  March 8, 2012 - Joli nez de framboises, floral. La bouche est dense, d'une belle tension, un peu acidulée, c'est un vin puissant et frais, de corps moyen, la finale est un peu rustique et demande à s'affiner. C'est un vin d'une jeunesse incroyable, qui ne semble pas encore à maturité même s'il se boit très bien, on dirait un vin de 4 ou 5 ans!! 92+ pts

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Wine Definition

• Vintage 1994
• Type Red
• Producer Château Rayas
• Varietal Syrah
• Designation Château de Fonsalette Cuvée Syrah
• Vineyard n/a
• Country France
• Region Rhône
• SubRegion Southern Rhône
• Appellation Côtes du Rhône

Community Holdings

• Pending Delivery 0 (0%)
• In Cellars 59 (71%)
• Consumed 24 (29%)

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