Château de Fonsalette

This is one of the three properties owned by Emmanuel Reynaud, along with Château Rayas in Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Château de Tours in Vacqueyras. It’s situated in Lagarde-Paréol, which is technically within the AOC Côtes-du-Rhône Villages Massif d’Uchaux just north of Châteauneuf, but the wine is bottled under AOC Côtes-du-Rhône. A relatively lowly AOC perhaps – but the wine is anything but.

There are some similarities to Château Rayas: sandy soils, whole bunch fermentation, light extraction, no new oak. But there are also differences: it’s majority Grenache, but also contains 35% Cinsault and 15% Syrah. In certain years he bottles a pure Cuvée Syrah, and he also makes a white wine from 80% Grenache, 10% Clairette and 10% Marsanne. The reds are highly aromatic, spicy and enjoyable structured; the white is also very fine, if perhaps less distinctive than the red. The hand of Emmanuel Reynaud is apparent in all the wines he makes, and he weaves an inimitable magic in all three estates.