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Because of the age of the wines and very strict pruning, only about 20 hectolitres per hectare are produced at Rayas and Fonsalette. This can be translated to about 5000 cases altogether, mostly red wine, because only 500 cases of Fonsalette Blanc is made and 350 cases of Château Rayas Blanc. Fonsalette usually produces about 2000 case of the rouge. This leaves about 2000 cases of Châteauneuf-du-Pape red split between Château Rayas and Pignan (the second wine) depending on the vintage.
Wine Description
The Story
The Fonsalette Côtes-du-Rhône wines are equally fascinating. They are made at Rayas, very much along the same lines. The low yields produce a red of great complexity with wonderful flavours of raspberries and blackcurrents. They have enormous charm and are always a revelation considering they are classified as a straightforward Côtes-du-Rhône.
The white is also excellent, less complex than the Rayas, it has a lovely texture and rich, exotic flavours on the palate. A wonderful rosé is also produced at Fonsalette as well as a special cuvee ... 100% Syrah. The Syrah vines are cloned from Chave's Hermitage vineyards. They are planted on cool north facing slopes. The wine is remarkebly dense, concentrated and rich. It only starts becoming drinkable after 15 to 20 years of ageing.