Rayas Chateau de Fonsalette Cotes du Rhone 2014

IMPORTER NOTES:

VARIETAL COMPOSITION: 50% Grenache, 35% Cinsault, 15% Syrah

VINEYARDS & VITICULTURE: “In 1945, Louis Reynaud of Château Rayas purchased Château Fonsalette near the village of Lagarde-Paréol. The estate comprises 121 hectares, 12 of which are planted to vineyards. This wine is composed of Grenache (the oldest planted 1929, most in 1975), Cinsault (planted in the 1960s, 1982, 1992) and Syrah. Soils are gravel, red galet stone and sandy.”

VINIFICATION: “The grapes are manually harvested. The whole bunches are then crushed, fermented for 8-12 days with native yeast and daily pumping over. The wine is aged for three months in enamel vats, then aged for 12 months in old liter casks - 450 and liter casks for Grenache and Syrah, and large barrels for Cinsault. Bottled unfined and unfiltered.”

ABOUT THE PRODUCER: "The spirit of Jacques Reynaud, the godfather of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, is always present at the storied estate of Château Rayas. When this legendary founder died suddenly in 1997, his wife asked their nephew, Emmanuel Reynaud, to take the reins at both Château Rayas and Château de Fonsalette. Already making wines at his father's Château des Tours, Emmanuel agreed.

Somewhat reclusive and to be found working his vineyards at most any time of day, every day, Emmanuel does not revel in the fame and notoriety that come with making such sought-after and acclaimed wines. Instead, he continues to quietly but successfully carry the mantle of his famous forebears, producing hauntingly aromatic wines at his three estates: Château Rayas, Château des Tours, and Château de Fonsalette. There is a clear through line in all the wines produced by Emmanuel – a unique weighty, aromatic, complex, and savory signature of all the wines that places them among the most well-regarded, sought-after bottles of the appellation."