Dave

9.2

A fine CdR from a fine producer. This wine exhibits delicious dark fruit, leather, licorice, and a smattering of garrigue. Very soft, I'm enjoying swirling this around in my mouth. Poured myself a taste, but the rest will be had with venison backstrap tonight.
Listening to The Grateful Dead
"We can share the women, we can share the wine..."🎶 — 3 days ago

Michael Coscetta

8.9

One of my favorite roses…even in winter — 13 days ago

Ann Elizabeth Mekala

9.0

Anise and plummy with some earthiness…so good! — 13 days ago

Brandon T

9.3

Medium body CdR. Jammier than expected. Lots of years ahead. — a month ago

Tom Casagrande

9.5

About to go outside and grill some Christmas lamb chops. I cannot tell you how many times bottles of various vintages of this special wine purchased on secondary markets—which is the only way worker bees like me can score Fonsalette—have disappointed. But, in a Christmas Miracle, this one’s pristine and sooooo good. Cork intact, very little saturation. High fill. A little amber at the rim, but no more than to be expected for its age. Lovely nose is opening with air (I double decanted) and is showing sultry, inviting scents of wet loamy gravel, pink grapefruit flesh, rich, oozy red berries, and well cared-for leather. So packed with flavor but in a frame that seemingly floats, it’s still got some tannin to shed but it’s quite soft textured. What balance! Quite long.

This is the wine I chose (the ‘83 iteration) in March 1987 when I invited a then-new friend over for grilled (on my fire escape ) lamb chops and Italian green beans (like my Nonna made them). That night became a first date with my wife of over 36 years. So we try to replicate that dinner at least once a year, and this is the first time in quite a while that the Fonsalette delivered and was not the victim of careless storage!!!! I’m a happy boy! — 21 days ago

Gilbert Van Hassel

9.2

Very round full bodied Rhône. Majority Grenache, drinks beautifully now but can age easily another 10 years. Dry, mouthfillling, garigue on nose and palate. — a month ago

Jeremiah Diaz

9.2

Clear, medium ruby in color; on the nose, it's clean with medium intensity primary and secondary aromas of lavender, maraschino cherries, and leather; on the palate, it's dry with medium plus acidity, medium plus tannins, high alcohol, medium body, and pronounced primary and secondary flavors of blackberries, black olives, fresh asphalt, and camphor with a long finish. This wine is complex, and intense. Overall, I rate this wine as very good. — a month ago

Doug Powers

9.1

After giving up on the flawed 1990 Clos des Papes, this rich, lovely Lirac is beautiful tonight, with promise for 5+ more years of positive development, very fine! — 6 days ago

with Jim

Jeremiah Diaz

9.1

Clear, deep ruby in color; on the nose, it's clean with pronounced primary and secondary aromas of blackberries, black cherries, violets, and baking spices; on the palate, it's dry with high acidity, high tannins, high alcohol, full body, and pronounced primary and secondary flavors of raspberries, blueberries, and fresh asphalt with a long finish. Overall, this wine is complex and intense. I rate this wine as very good. — 23 days ago

Peter Sultan

9.0

I’ve seen this label so many times it was easy to dismiss. A big, dark, joyous bottle ( including the bottle itself, which is hefty). Syrah all the way. — 22 days ago