1996 Chateau de Fonsalette "Réservé" Côtes-Du-Rhone

“The 1996 Fonsalette Cotes du Rhone boasts a dense ruby/purple color, as well as a chocolatey, blackberry, super-concentrated palate impression, and considerable body. This wine is atypically massive for this vintage. Muscular and structured, with huge fruit and richness, it was made from fully ripened fruit and an extremely late harvest. While it has softened in the bottle, this offering is still dominated by its truffle and blackberry jam aspects. (RP)” (02/1999)

“Medium red. Cherry, black pepper and an exotic note of apricot on the nose. Dense and mouthfilling; complex but not especially fruity today, with a strong peppery quality. Has enough sweet middle to support the strong but evenly distributed tannins. Persistent finish. This should age extremely well for a Côtes du Rhône. (ST)” (02/1999)