Côtes du Rhône 2013, Château de Fonsalette, Emmanuel Reynaud

Name: Côtes du Rhône 2013, Château de Fonsalette, Emmanuel Reynaud - Le Roux Vins
Brand: 0.75 L
SKU: VEVRCDRCF2013
Price: 295.00 CHF
Availability: InStock

CHF 295.00

Côtes du Rhône 2013, Château de Fonsalette: The Uncrowned Prince – If Château Rayas is the King, Château de Fonsalette is the Prince in disguise. Made by the same legendary winemaker, Emmanuel Reynaud, in the same cellar, and with the same meticulous care, this is a “humble” Côtes du Rhône that rivals the world’s finest Châteauneuf-du-Pape. The 2013 vintage, known for its coolness, played perfectly into Reynaud’s hands, producing a wine of haunting elegance and spicy complexity.

What’s it Like?

This is a wine of structure and savory depth. Unlike the fruit-forward nature of many Rhônes, the 2013 Fonsalette is brooding and complex. The nose is a mesmerizing mix of wild strawberries, kirsch, and black olive tapenade, lifted by Reynaud’s signature notes of blood orange zest, dried flowers, and white pepper. On the palate, it is fresh and vibrant, with a distinct salinity and fine-grained tannins. It feels more like a Grand Cru Burgundy than a Southern Rhône, finishing with a long, spicy echo.

Perfect For

A blind tasting to stump your most knowledgeable wine friends (they will likely guess it’s a top-tier Châteauneuf-du-Pape or a Burgundy), pairing with game birds like squab or pheasant, or serving with a wild mushroom risotto.

The Rayas Connection…

Fonsalette is not a “second wine” of Rayas, but a separate estate located just north of Orange. However, the grapes are brought to the Rayas cellars and vinified with the exact same magic: whole-cluster fermentation, natural yeasts, and aging in ancient, neutral oak foudres. The key difference is the blend; Fonsalette typically includes a significant portion of Syrah (along with Grenache and Cinsault), which gives it a meatier, more savory backbone compared to the pure Grenache of Rayas. In a fresh vintage like 2013, this creates a wine of incredible tension and class.

What is it? A legendary, cult-status red wine that transcends its appellation.
From? North of Orange (Rhône Valley), France.
Grapes? Grenache, Cinsault, Syrah.
Tastes Like? Wild strawberry, black olive, blood orange, and white pepper.

1 in stock

SKU: VEVRCDRCF2013 Categories: 0.75 L, Château de Fonsalette, Cinsault, Grenache, Red, Red Wines, Rhone, Shiraz

Côtes du Rhône 2013, Château de Fonsalette, Emmanuel Reynaud

Château de Fonsalette is one of the Rhône Valley’s best-kept secrets, a name whispered with reverence among those who know the wines of Emmanuel Reynaud—proprietor of the legendary Château Rayas. Situated just a few kilometers from the famed Rayas estate, Fonsalette may technically bear the more modest Côtes-du-Rhône appellation, but in the hands of Reynaud, it produces wines of startling beauty, grace, and longevity that often defy classification.

Acquired by Emmanuel’s grandfather, Louis Reynaud, in the mid-20th century, Fonsalette is a 120-hectare property nestled among forests, olive groves, and old-vine parcels of Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault, Clairette, and Grenache Blanc. The vineyards are cultivated with minimal intervention—no herbicides, no chemical treatments, and with painstaking care for the old vines and the complex soils of sand and clay.

Fonsalette is not part of the Louis Roederer group; instead, it stands as a sibling estate to Château Rayas and Pignan, united under Emmanuel Reynaud’s deeply personal, almost mystical approach to winemaking. The vinification at Fonsalette mirrors that of Rayas: whole-cluster fermentation, aging in ancient demi-muids, and an aversion to manipulation. The result is wines that are intensely expressive, delicate yet profound, and utterly singular.

The red Côtes-du-Rhône from Fonsalette, composed largely of old-vine Grenache and Syrah, is velvety, aromatic, and laced with spice, garrigue, and floral notes. It is one of the few Côtes-du-Rhône wines with the structure to age gracefully for decades. The rare white—comprising Grenache Blanc, Clairette, and Marsanne—is hauntingly complex, with nutty, honeyed character, and the capacity to surprise even seasoned palates after years in bottle.

Due to the tiny production and cult following, Fonsalette wines are highly sought after, often allocated and rarely found on the open market. They reflect not just a place, but a philosophy—a commitment to purity, patience, and authenticity.

In the world of Rhône wine, Château de Fonsalette may wear a humble appellation, but its soul, shaped by one of France’s most enigmatic winemakers, is undeniably grand.